Pandemic Atlanta Lockdown - Week 6

Blueprint of the 7-layer spiced coffee

Nothing new this week. The pandemic continues to destroy the world, and especially the USA. Some countries have managed to overcome or contain their outbreaks. Georgia plans to reopen by April 30th. However, we continue to work from home. Even if the cities and states reopen, the international borders remain shut down. No real sign of normalcy in the near future.

In fact, what is normalcy? There are predictions that this pandemic has changed human life forever. People becoming more distant and less physical maybe the new norm. Maybe more waves and namaste gestures to replace the typical handshakes and hugs? States are already discussing reopening. As the number of deaths piles up, everything has become statistics. What is the difference between 2 million and 3 million? We are in a horrible reality. But this is not new to humanity. Historians are drawing parallels to the 1918 Flu Pandemic. Perhaps we already know the answers to future questions. We need to look back into history.

However, this pandemic is still new to several of us individually. It will also affect the foreigners who live in temporary visas such as study visas and employment visas. Countries are becoming more nationalistic and globalization has taken a huge hit too. The human loss also has caused distrust among the governments. We need to wait and observe how things go.

Pandemic and Counter-Intuitive Measures

The 7-layer spiced coffee

My apartment community's leasing center has stopped accepting USPS packages. USPS doesn't deliver packages to our doorstep. Now, "as a courtesy", USPS is holding our packages in the post office for 30 days free of charge. This move from our leasing center is, ostensibly to protect its staff. But in fact, they could just let the USPS drop it at the leasing center and drop it later at our doorstep in a contact-less manner. I know it will be overhead. But they could have managed it better, rather than forcing us to go to the post office to collect our parcels when we ask for the delivery exactly to avoid going out. This is just an example. I see how some pandemic measures are actually leading to adverse effects. Some of these measures, rather than letting people to stay home, force them to take additional measures (such as having to go to the post office to collect the parcels and transitting more buses since several bus routes are canceled by MARTA - Atlanta's public transportation system). Also, such reduced public transportation can also lead to a higher concentration of riders.

Price gouging

Chat with Walmart agent

As the pandemic has lead to a shortage of several essential items, price gouging is also on full swing. Some middlemen purchase items in bulk and then sell them online for an inflated price. I ordered a 4-pack water filter from a 3rd party seller, named "Soflo Boutique" in Walmart.com. That was 70.15$. Double the usual price! Then I found the 6-pack of the same filter from Target.com for just 48.71$, the actual price. So instantly canceled the order. There is a Walmart promise that if we cancel on time (which I did, almost instantly!) the seller must respond within a business day. Now, a week has passed and they have shipped the item, ignoring my message. This is a clear predatory practice. The reason is, they know we are not going to bother returning the item amid a pandemic.

Walmart.com Chat

I again complained to Walmart.com chat agent on Friday since the message I sent to the third-party vendor via walmart.com messaging did not receive a reply for more than 48 hours. I had to wait a long time for the chat agent to appear online. I can understand that this is due to the pandemic and the increased demand.

Time is imaginary!

What funny was, the waiting time displayed in the chat window was changing arbitrarily. As the wait time is 180 minutes. Then suddenly reduced to 100 minutes after 10 minutes. After around 100 more minutes, the wait time dropped to 1 minute! I prepared to chat. And it went back to 40 minutes! It kept oscillating back and forth until eventually, the chat agent did appear. The first chat agent seemed like a bot. But eventually, a real human appeared. They mentioned they will ask the seller "that the order be cancelled immediately". It will be best if these third-party vendors stop capitalizing on a deadly pandemic. We already have more than enough things to worry about during this pandemic.

 This reminds me of the good old days. Every time I tried to download something, it stops at 99%. Remaining time to download used to deviate back and forth from 10 minutes to 1 minute, to 20 minutes. A phone call would then disconnect the modem connection, and thus halting the almost complete download. We have come a long way in Internet connectivity. But we still have miles to go!

Making of the 7-layer spiced coffee.

Phase 1: Design and planning. Lol pic.twitter.com/ryn6GQHGYM

— Pradeeban (@pradeeban) April 23, 2020

Whipped chocolate coffee

Caffeine Rush

I know I should avoid too much caffeine intake. It may have a negative health impact. But, it is ok once in a while, I hope. I made some interesting coffee-based, alcoholic, as well as other drinks this week. One such drink I made this week is the 7-layer spiced coffee, which took me a significant effort. The whipped chocolate coffee is quite simple. First, whisk instant coffee, cocoa powder, and sugar into a creamy mix with the help of a milk frother, with a little water. Add this creamy mix carefully to the top of a tall glass of soya milk. Finally, top up the drink with vanilla ice cream.

I also made a moringa leaf drink with soya milk. First, add moringa leaf powder to honey and water. Then, mix it thoroughly and add to soya milk in a tall glass. Whisk using a milk frother until everything is mixed well. However, my conclusion is, moringa leaf powder tastes weird. Don't try this drink at home.

Making of a great non-alcoholic non-caffeine beverage.

Taste: not as horrible as I expected. pic.twitter.com/S2LseCu7U4

— Pradeeban (@pradeeban) April 26, 2020 

Keukenhof, Netherlands: we visited it in 2017 April. This year they have incurred a loss as they have to remain shut down during the spring season. But they have virtual tours! https://keukenhof.nl/en/keukenhof-virtually-open-2/ Of course, the virtual one doesn't give you the same feeling: The smell, the wind, and the touches.

 
Take care, and stay safe everyone. :)