On 8/10/2020 at 10:19 PM, suspensewriter said:

Are you okay, by the way?

It’s going okay so far considering what a big move this is. We’re still in quarantine for a few more days.

We finally made it to Europe despite the pandemic and hope to ride out COVID-19 here until a vaccine arrives (the country we’re in is handling the pandemic relatively well). We’re just in temporary housing at the moment and everything is still pretty chaotic; we’re looking forward to things settling down and getting back into a routine soon. Take care and stay safe.

Hope you're feeling better! Be careful out there.

18 hours ago, Zee said:

So I suppose the concern is that once the Hagia Sofia has ceased to be a museum, it will be less accessible to people of other faiths (other than Islam)?

It's more than that. It's symbolic of Turkey rejecting its modern-era secularism and, instead, embracing a past that included the genocide of its Christians.

10 hours ago, Nicola said:

3D Hagia Sophia

At least we have scans and virtual tours.  Don't have to quarantine to visit!

The most interesting thing the scans (not the link I gave) reveal are the Christian mosaics and paintings that are painted over now. 

This probably means the end of any restoration of the mosaics. I guess Erdogan is trying to score points domestically.

It was the most important cathedral of the Byzantines for hundreds of years before the conquest of Constantinople, when it was converted into a mosque. It was changed into a museum in the 1930s and has been one since -- until now. The Greeks are all up in arms about it:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-museum-greece-eu-idUSKCN24F1JZ

It's actually considered significant enough that the US government has condemned it:

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-secretary-state-urges-turkey-not-turn-hagia-sophia-mosque

https://usa.greekreporter.com/2020/07/10/erdogans-move-on-hagia-sophia-a-deep-affront-to-christians-around-the-world/

Of course, there's not much anyone can do about it.

As I predicted in Under the Crescent Moon a year or so ago. I don't think this was necessary; there are already plenty of mosques in Istanbul.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53371341

I've been using it for a few years and find it really helps to keep things organized, especially in a longer work.

Yep. The quarantine thing is getting a bit old.

Good luck!

Thanks for the laugh.

9 hours ago, carolinamtne said:

Let us know the results. We're praying.

They said I can't get tested since I'm not currently sick and the antibody tests are in short supply. So, I'm stuck with a 14-day self quarantine, unfortunately. Thanks for asking.

Praying.

On 4/1/2020 at 8:11 PM, PenName said:

My family has made it back to the US. Thank God! Prayers for a good journey for you, @BKHunter, and for your family, @Zee!

Glad to hear your family made it back home! Thanks for the prayers.

I'm back in the USA now and trying to get the COVID-19 test since I was sick while overseas in March, starting about two weeks after a flight within the Middle East. I don't have any symptoms now, though, so it would have to be the test for antibodies, which is harder to get. I hope I had it already and am immune now.

56 minutes ago, Zee said:

I’ve got family in Central Africa, and there’s no way they’re all getting out if things get bad...(helps to have dual citizenship in cases like these) so I’d appreciate prayers for them too.

I've heard a British passport is better than an American one in some of these cases. I only have the one, though. Praying for your family in Africa.

2 hours ago, Ragamuffin_John said:

Just prayed, BK, for the Lord to open the doors for you to return soon.   Sam, PenName, for your family members.

It looks like I will be on Thursday's flight -- thanks.

4 hours ago, PenName said:

I have family in a similar situation in West Africa. Prayers for you.

Prayers for them, as well. Better get out now -- I don't know if there will be any flights later.

Although they've closed down the airports, etc. where I am in the Middle East, they have a very limited number of repatriation flights still available. I'm trying to go back to the USA on Thursday, which could very well mean I will never return here since I was scheduled to leave in a few months anyhow. My wife (back in the USA) is hoping I make it back soon; she has been very worried. I am rushing to get everything ready so I can go soon, but my trip still needs to be approved by management (not sure yet if that will happen).

I read that, too, and hope it works. It would take quite a while to get a vaccine ready, so something that cures it (or at least alleviates the symptoms) would be great right now.

So, as coronavirus sweeps the Middle East, here are some of the precautions I've seen being taken:

• Border crossings and airports closed (this means no more mail/Amazon, as well as being trapped here)
• Roads blocked; military at city boundaries to stop travel within country
• Everyone is under home curfew (work done online only); workplaces closed
• Restaurants, churches, mosques and most stores closed
• Resort hotels converted into quarantine camps for pre-closure travelers and the sick

A bit extreme, but it should slow the virus if everyone sticks to it. Hope everyone else is hanging in there.

Praying.

I think the point of that post -- which I do not doubt was genuine -- was that health care systems that are already close to capacity (i.e. not enough intensive care units, etc.) are not ready for this virus. While some countries might be able to handle a limited number of cases fine, if too many hit at once, a lot of people will die. So the best we can do is try to slow it down via extreme cleanliness, social distancing, or whatever until warmer weather and, eventually, a vaccine come.

Remember, they were telling jokes in northern Italy (I have friends there) just a week or two ago about the virus being no big deal. It needs to be taken seriously.

Praying.