MedicAR

Great stuff! Unfortunately, I have most of it.... You wouldn't happen to have a copy of his Indiana Jones print signed would you?

Why? Facilitators take care of your books and work to make it right if they damage them. CGC can destroy your book and tell you "well, life sucks." That's why they have the new waiver on their signings. I'll never do another in house signing.

Any facilitators attending the Northwest Arkansas Comicon? It's not a great lineup but Charles Martinet is slated and I've been chasing him for my son for some time. Please PM me if you can help!

Sam Kieth

Yeah, for years, you couldn't swing a dead cat without hitting a stack of the blue ones.

Not trying to spam, I really thought that the 1990s were technically "modern" so I made the same post in the modern topic area. I guess that just shows my age. In the glorious comics era of the 1990s, Topps broke into the comic market publishing their own books. Among them were the Kirbyverse and the Secret City Saga was a part of that universe. For #0, there were at least four versions. There was the standard version with a blue background There was a red version There was a gold version And finally a platinum (or silver) edition Topps Comics had a few titles that were a part of their Kirbyverse. In the first issue (I believe) of each title was a coupon to submit to get your Kirbychrome edition of Secret City saga. I cannot recall if the Kirbychrome was the gold or platinum version. I was completely unaware of the red version until years after the fact and have no idea where it came from. I feel like the platinum was something of a "thank you" or retailer incentive but again, cannot remember at all. Does anyone know about these? In particular, how they were distributed?

In the glorious comics era of the 1990s, Topps broke into the comic market publishing their own books. Among them were the Kirbyverse and the Secret City Saga was a part of that universe. For #0, there were at least four versions. There was the standard version with a blue background There was a red version There was a gold version And finally a platinum (or silver) edition Topps Comics had a few titles that were a part of their Kirbyverse. In the first issue (I believe) of each title was a coupon to submit to get your Kirbychrome edition of Secret City saga. I cannot recall if the Kirbychrome was the gold or platinum version. I was completely unaware of the red version until years after the fact and have no idea where it came from. I feel like the platinum was something of a "thank you" or retailer incentive but again, cannot remember at all. Does anyone know about these? In particular, how they were distributed?

Thank you!

Ok, sorry, I'm not really in this much anymore and I had the wrong name for the show. Is anybody taking books for Fan Expo New Orleans?

Thread title says it all. I have one book for sure, depending on the creators list, I may have more.

Based on what? The cases in China, the center of the outbreak, have nearly leveled off. Very likely. We're the point now where everyone with the sniffles goes to the doctor. Combine that with discouraging everyone from going to any type of gathering and I imagine deaths and infections will be down. There is a weekly count released by CDC for the US. If you were to compare the flu to COVID-19, you would see more deaths from flu than there are cases of COVID-19. I've got fire crews in my area saying that they will go in wearing full haz-mat suits with SCBA if they get a call for a potential COVID-19 patient. Despite all that we are doing, all that the hospitals are doing, that the national and global organizations are doing to calm their fears, they are essentially going in wearing space suits.

The WHO is 100% correct. Mass gatherings are responsible for the spread of the common cold and the flu but we don't cancel everything for them and they are exponentially more common.

It's not extra strong but the shots vary from year to year based on predictions as to which strains will be most active. Technically, they say getting the flu shot, any flu shot, won't make you sick but I'm with you, only I get sick every time I take one. A coronavirus is a different type of virus, so no, the flu shot doesn't help on that front. Funny enough, I recently read where a little alcohol does seem to help! I'll try to find the study again!

Not really. The overreaction will tax the system because we have to go overboard in order to alleviate the public fears. The lack of beds is seasonal due to the flu and there are only 437 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the US right now (March 8, 1100 CDT) with many staying home. Having COVID-19 doesn't mean hospitalization. Just like the flu, most people can beat it at home. Mysteriously, six of the top eight countries of outbreaks have free healthcare, so lack of access doesn't appear to be the issue. I'm not familiar with the "all over the map messaging" but what I am familiar with has been consistent. "It's similar to the flu in transmission and symptoms and stop panicking" have been the messages that I have seen.

I'm not here to pick on anyone but we need to clarify a few things. None of this is personal, it's just putting out accurate information and trying to put the infodemic to rest. This is correct. Surgical masks are intended to keep thing IN, not OUT. It's in the name "surgical mask" meaning a mask for surgery. They don't put them on the patients for surgery, the staff wears them. Very close! Actively wash the front and back of your hands for about 20 seconds at a minimum under the hottest tolerable water then rinse. Than panic was started long before this, so technically, you're right no one here is starting a panic. Emerald City was canceled because of panic. Reed is not doing anything based on solid medical evidence, they are doing it because everyone they had booked for the show was backing out. It's not clinical, it's financial. You are correct, COVID-19 is not the flu but it is incredibly similar. Each person with the flu generally infects 1-2 more people. Each person with COVID-19 generally infects 2-3 people. It's almost twice as contagious but the real threat is still very low. They are similar in the way they are transmitted and the symptoms are very similar. COVID-19 appears to bring on respiratory infection more frequently than the flu but if one is reasonably healthy and seeks care as soon as symptoms appear, they should be very manageable. Major conventions have been cancelled, of that there is no doubt. Not just comic conventions but all kinds of conventions. Just like Emerald City, it's not based on a clinical reason but because everyone is terrified of what is in the media and they know that if people don't attend then no one makes money. It's better to cancel than to have an unsuccessful convention or show. Chinese cities are relative ghost towns. It's not because everyone is ill or dead but because they have been told to shelter in place. Italy is not shut down. They have severely restricted travel in and out of the country but life inside Italy goes on. They are more cautious and schools are closed which has potential to strain the entire country but that's not the same as shut down. As of 1017 CDT on March 8, 2019, there are 3 cases in San Diego and 9 in San Francisco with no deaths in either city. If they are in a state of emergency, it is solely because they are stupid. Washing hands is the best possible answer. Hand sanitizer generally gives a false sense of security and is really a stopgap until one can wash their hands. 95% of people rub the sanitizer until it is dry which is wrong. Doing this only spreads contaminants all over the hands with little to no killing of pathogens. To use it properly, cover your hands and let it air dry but then still wash as soon as possible. Avoid touching your face, this is correct. None of this is spread through contact with toilet seats and this is just making the fear worse. COVID-19 is a virus and it needs to be inside its host. Intact skin is nature's strongest barrier against pathogens. Unless you have broken skin on and around your bottom that makes contact with the toilet seat, you are at no risk of catching this from a toilet seat. I hope to all that's holy you are actually washing your hands after using the restroom. If you are, then there is no need to avoid contact with the flushing mechanisms. Yes, the virus can live on that surface, but it's unlikely to be put there from normal use of the facilities. Now, if someone were to cough or sneeze on it, then yes, there is a great likelihood of the virus being present but as long as your skin is intact and you don't touch your face from the toilet/urinal to the sink, you will be fine. Kids are NOT especially vulnerable. Mysteriously, they have a very low infection rate compared to adults on this one. If you're worried about the flu or the common cold (also a coronavirus), then by all means keep them at home. If the only reason to keep them home is COVID-19 then you're going over the top. There is no evidence that the virus lives in the respiratory system. It is thought to be spread through respiratory droplets but research is ongoing. Respiratory droplets are any tiny droplets expelled through breathing, coughing, sneezing, or even speaking. This is why the surgical masks are effective at prevention of spreading the disease, not prevention of catching the disease. These droplets need to make contact with the mucosa in the nose, mouth, or possibly the tissues of the eyes in order to infect a person. Even this type of contact may not be enough if the person's immune system is strong enough. It does cause respiratory illness, specifically pneumonia and that pneumonia is the leading cause of death in victims of COVID-19. If you have pre-existing respiratory problems, then you should be far more cautious Mostly true. N-95 or higher (they go up to N-100) is thought to be effective. Again, research is ongoing but this appears to be accurate. Gloves and gown are primarily so that caregivers can doff them before moving to another patient to prevent cross contamination. Eye protection is recommended by CDC as well and they recommend full eye coverage, including the sides as they are still determining if ocular exposure is a real means of transmission. I would be perfectly comfortable treating someone with COVID-19 with no gloves or gown as long as I didn't expect to move on to other patients. In fact, I doubt I would use a mask or goggles either. I would mask the patient and wash my hands once care is complete. N-95s do need to be fit tested and should only be used once. An imperfect fit will provide protection, just not as much protection as a properly fitting ask will. Here is a live map with all the cases on the planet. The interesting part is the green numbers at the top right. That's the number of recovered patients and it is a number I haven't seen in the media. For those not so good at math, more than 50% of the confirmed cases are recovered (60,659 out of 107,658) and just over 3% have died (3,653 out of 107,658) and more than 81% of the deaths are in China (2,986 out of 3,653). The fear and paranoia of the disease are far worse than the disease itself.

You are very welcome. There is a big push within healthcare right now to smash all the fear and paranoia!

You get it! THANK YOU! Just use the same good sense you use during every flu season and you should be just fine!

We have two problems right now. One is an epidemic known as COVID-19 (coronavirus) and another is best described as an "Infodemic." The first is a virus transmitted between people, the second is people transmitting anything and everything they see and/or hear about a virus. I work in healthcare and have been watching this since it first surfaced about six to eight weeks ago. I get my information from vetted sources, not Facebook, Twitter, or for the most part, mass media. The media has its place, showing us where outbreaks are but that's about all they are good for. I've been to meetings at various levels about containment and response to the virus. I'm researching this daily to take care of my people. I use the CDC, the WHO, the International Society for Infectious Diseases, and other researched and evidence based sources for my information. Here's what we know. The COVID-19 is a coronavirus, similar to the viruses that caused SARS and MERS. I'm sure many of you recall that both of those were going to "kill us all" in the not so distant past. The common cold is a coronavirus as well. These are caused by the same type of virus, so named because of the ridged, "crown like" appearance of the virus under intense magnification. "Corona" is Latin for "crown." It most likely originated in an animal of some kind and bats are the most likely suspect right now. It appears that it originated in or around Wuhan, China, possibly in a food market where live and dead animals are sold side by side. Wuhan is a major city with a considerable amount of international travelers to and from the city. Corona viruses generally cause flu-like symptoms including congestion, fever, cough, and body aches in addition to respiratory issues. COVID-19, SARS and MERS cause lower respiratory infections which generally lead to pneumonia and regardless of whether they turn to pneumonia or not, they can be fatal. There is no cure and treatment consists of supportive care of the symptoms. All that being said, I also just described the flu. You know, the disease some of us get vaccinated for and some of us don't by our own choice! While there is no definitive information on transmission, it is incredibly likely that it is transmitted like the flu, through droplets and close contact. The flu swabs or tests for the flu will not catch COVID-19, they are different viruses and the flu test doesn't detect COVID-19 and vice versa. If you have a weakened immune system, have other chronic diseases, have a weakened respiratory system, or are over the age of 65, you have a higher likelihood of contracting COVID-19, just as you have a greater risk of catching the flu. The big difference between COVID-19 and the flu to the average person is that most people with the flu are likely to infect 1-2 other people while those infected with COVID-19 are likely to infect 2-3 other people. That's it! Conspiracy theories abound. It is unlikely that this escaped from a weapons laboratory in China for a couple of reasons. It's just not virulent enough to be weapons grade anything. It's transmitted between humans but not really efficiently and it looks like it needs to start with a host, meaning that it's not easily spread in a gas or powder. Lysol did not know this was coming, that's not why they say on labels as far back as 2007 that it kills the human coronavirus. Lysol put that on their labels because they knew that the common cold is a coronavirus and that people were terrified of SARS (also a coronavirus, remember?) because of the media. Keeping it clean. Be aware that for any of the products that kill a coronavirus to be effective, they generally need to be sprayed on and left for one minute or allowed to air dry. Anything else is just smearing the viruses around, assuming that they were even there in the first place. Always consult the product label for best use. Hand sanitizers need to cover the hands and then allowed to air dry. Rubbing them until they are dry just smears whatever you're trying to kill all over your hands. If you have symptoms, a mask will very likely prevent you spreading the disease. A mask, shy of an N-95 (or higher number), is not likely to prevent catching the disease. Even then, the N95 needs to be worn properly with a good seal. Surgical masks are not intended to protect the wearer, they are intended to prevent the wearer spreading whatever they are carrying. They might help the healthy but that's a big "might" as there is no evidence proving it. As for the wipes at Wal-Mart, grocery stores, and anywhere else people use a shopping cart, you're really just moving the germs around on the surface. Wash your hands regularly and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. I feel silly having to tell people that because anything else is just gross. There is no reason for this to disrupt trade, markets, meetings, concerts, movies, or anything else. It is essentially a different version of the flu caused by a different type of virus. To put it in terms of dogs, not all dogs are Doberman Pinchers but it's also true that not all dogs are Chihuahuas. Viruses, like dogs, come in all shapes and sizes and are known for different characteristics. Does it really matter what dog bites you? Regardless, you're still bit! Same with COVID-19 and the flu, similar symptoms, similar treatments. Go about your business! Until the last two weeks, the flu had killed more people since October than had contracted COVID-19! Flu deaths this season are about four times higher than COVID-19 and I imagine both will start declining because everyone is seeing a doctor for every sniffle now. This is something for you to really think about. The question that is just beginning to circulate now is whether this really is new or if it has been around and we're just now diagnosing it. Maybe six months or a year ago we would have shrugged and said "it's not the flu, just some other virus. Get some rest." The virus can live on surfaces but the length of time is unclear so far. It may be as short as two hours or as long as several days. Prior to cleaning a room after a confirmed case left, about 80% of surfaces had the live virus on them. After disinfection, this dropped to 0%. Standard household cleaner can and do kill it when used properly. There are several listed by the EPA now and many news outlets have listed them or a link to them. Check the labels if in doubt! If my word isn't good enough, check out Dr. Abdu Sharkawy, MD and Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto

This thread is an example of why and how everyone is panicking right now. First and foremost, kids appear to be darn near immune. It's a complete mystery but they do. Just check with the CDC. Seattle is going nuts despite the fact that the majority of their cases were all from the same nursing home. We have two problems right now. One is an epidemic known as COVID-19 (coronavirus) and another is best described as an "Infodemic." The first is a virus transmitted between people, the second is people transmitting anything and everything they see and/or hear about a virus. I work in healthcare and have been watching this since it first surfaced about six to eight weeks ago. I am a training officer for an ambulance agency and a designated infection control officer. I get my information from vetted sources, not Facebook, Twitter, or for the most part, mass media. The media has its place, showing us where outbreaks are but that's about all they are good for. I've been to meetings at various levels about containment and response to the virus. I'm researching this daily to take care of my people. I use the CDC, the WHO, the International Society for Infectious Diseases, and other researched and evidence based sources for my information. Here's what we know. The COVID-19 is a coronavirus, similar to the viruses that caused SARS and MERS. I'm sure many of you recall that both of those were going to "kill us all" in the not so distant past. The common cold is a coronavirus as well. These are caused by the same type of virus, so named because of the ridged, "crown like" appearance of the virus under intense magnification. "Corona" is Latin for "crown." It most likely originated in an animal of some kind and bats are the most likely suspect right now. It appears that it originated in or around Wuhan, China, possibly in a food market where live and dead animals are sold side by side. Wuhan is a major city with a considerable amount of international travelers to and from the city. Corona viruses generally cause flu-like symptoms including congestion, fever, cough, and body aches in addition to respiratory issues. COVID-19, SARS and MERS cause lower respiratory infections which generally lead to pneumonia and regardless of whether they turn to pneumonia or not, they can be fatal. There is no cure and treatment consists of supportive care of the symptoms. All that being said, I also just described the flu. You know, the disease some of us get vaccinated for and some of us don't by our own choice! While there is no definitive information on transmission, it is incredibly likely that it is transmitted like the flu, through droplets and close contact. The flu swabs or tests for the flu will not catch COVID-19, they are different viruses and the flu test doesn't detect COVID-19 and vice versa. If you have a weakened immune system, have other chronic diseases, have a weakened respiratory system, or are over the age of 65, you have a higher likelihood of contracting COVID-19, just as you have a greater risk of catching the flu. The big difference between COVID-19 and the flu to the average person is that most people with the flu are likely to infect 1-2 other people while those infected with COVID-19 are likely to infect 2-3 other people. That's it! Conspiracy theories abound. It is unlikely that this escaped from a weapons laboratory in China for a couple of reasons. It's just not virulent enough to be weapons grade anything. It's transmitted between humans but not really efficiently and it looks like it needs to start with a host, meaning that it's not easily spread in a gas or powder. Lysol did not know this was coming, that's not why they say on labels as far back as 2007 that it kills the human coronavirus. Lysol put that on their labels because they knew that the common cold is a coronavirus and that people were terrified of SARS (also a coronavirus, remember?) because of the media. Keeping it clean. Be aware that for any of the products that kill a coronavirus to be effective, they generally need to be sprayed on and left for one minute or allowed to air dry. Anything else is just smearing the viruses around, assuming that they were even there in the first place. Always consult the product label for best use. Hand sanitizers need to cover the hands and then allowed to air dry. Rubbing them until they are dry just smears whatever you're trying to kill all over your hands. If you have symptoms, a mask will very likely prevent you spreading the disease. A mask, shy of an N-95 (or higher number), is not likely to prevent catching the disease. Even then, the N95 needs to be worn properly with a good seal. Surgical masks are not intended to protect the wearer, they are intended to prevent the wearer spreading whatever they are carrying. They might help the healthy but that's a big "might" as there is no evidence proving it. As for the wipes at Wal-Mart, grocery stores, and anywhere else people use a shopping cart, you're really just moving the germs around on the surface. Wash your hands regularly and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. I feel silly having to tell people that because anything else is just gross. There is no reason for this to disrupt trade, markets, meetings, concerts, movies, or anything else. It is essentially a different version of the flu caused by a different type of virus. To put it in terms of dogs, not all dogs are Doberman Pinchers but it's also true that not all dogs are Chihuahuas. Viruses, like dogs, come in all shapes and sizes and are known for different characteristics. Does it really matter what dog bites you? Regardless, you're still bit! Same with COVID-19 and the flu, similar symptoms, similar treatments. Go about your business! Until the last two weeks, the flu had killed more people since October than had contracted COVID-19! Flu deaths this season are about four times higher than COVID-19 and I imagine both will start declining because everyone is seeing a doctor for every sniffle now. This is something for you to really think about. The question that is just beginning to circulate now is whether this really is new or if it has been around and we're just now diagnosing it. Maybe six months or a year ago we would have shrugged and said "it's not the flu, just some other virus. Get some rest." The virus can live on surfaces but the length of time is unclear so far. It may be as short as two hours or as long as several days. Prior to cleaning a room after a confirmed case left, about 80% of surfaces had the live virus on them. After disinfection, this dropped to 0%. Standard household cleaner can and do kill it when used properly. There are several listed by the EPA now and many news outlets have listed them or a link to them. Check the labels if in doubt!

Thank you!