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CAN WE AUDIOPHILES DO OUR PART?

So we're all tired of hearing about nothing but Covid-19 (or, as I term it, the C-Plague). What can we do, as audiophiles, to help with all this.
I was amazed, and delighted, when I went to the Cardas website to see that they are doing their part. Go to their website and you'll see their director, Angela Cardas, wearing a mask. If you click on the Cardas Nautilus logo in the upper left corner, you'll see pictures of people there in the factory making masks with sewing machines. I called the company to congratulate them, and spoke with a woman named Darla, who said it was their way, during this economic slump, to keep their employees working and also their way of trying to "do our part."
I'm not writing all this to advertise Cardas products. They are a very good company, but trust your ears, not anything I write, when it comes to buying their products. They do get credit, however, for helping me come to a realization that pushed me in the right direction. I called a woman I am friends with, who is 85 years old and is a good seamstress, to suggest she start making masks. She already was--and is. By phone she has organized several other women to do the same, and right now they are needing more material and elastic. I managed to gather about 50 pounds of material and am starting to gather elastic while also getting more material. But I don't sew. I can't help out with that. Any ideas as to what we--all of us who are good with our ears and focused with our budgets--can do to help out in other ways?

I realize this is an odd topic to bring to an audio forum, but it was a very socially responsible audio company that got me to thinking about it, and frankly I believe I should be socially responsible enough to do what I can to get other people to thinking about it. While also being open to other people's ideas about ways someone like me who is "just an audiophile" can help.

Thank you, in advance, for any and all ideas on this.



baumli
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
heaudio123, you’re even more gullible than I already thought. Most so called n95 masks are not even n95 spec. Why would the governors and states recommended making your own mask? Because it’s to stop the spread. Duh!

Jitter is gullible, too but I already knew that. Some people believe anything. They’re desperate. They also believed the pandemic wouldn’t last long, that drugs would come to the rescue, that a vaccine was right around the corner, that millions of tests were available, that the government would supply PPE and tests. 
terry9
2,354 posts
 
@snarbut , Thank you for your service, and for your exposition. Looks like the same reason that Y2K didn't close down a few continents.
heaudio123
689 posts
 
"Catching a virus" and becoming "sick" is a statistical event. Yes, you can get sick from a single virus. Highly unlikely but you can. When you are exposed, your immune system, even though this is "novel" does not do nothing. It has generalized responses. Every viral particle you are exposed to increases the odds the infection with "catch". Bunches of particles have protection from mucus and water layer of the person transmitting that can increases the likelihood of infection, hence why large droplets are more a concern.

Air does leak around the edges even of an N95, but see my first line above. This is all statistic. The infected person wearing a mask, you wearing a mask, distancing especially in indoor spaces, etc. all reduce your statistical chances of catching the virus. It will never be 0 chance if there is an infected person close, but you work to get it as low as possible. Within a society, the goal is to get the R0 < 1, which means cases are dropping, not increasing. All these measures reduce R0.

p.s. I wear a P100 respirator for grocery shopping. It's worth it just for the looks I get.

Second, there is some concern that the virus is spread as an aerosol. There is no confirmation of this and even Fauci has said he cannot prove it. An aerosolized virus can linger in the air like a mist. To be protected from an aerosol you would need to have a custom fitted N95 medical mask that allows no air in around the nose and chin area and filters better than typical masks. Virtually no one has these. With all other masks, even surgical masks, air can be drawn in around the edges and thus would not protect you from an aerosolized virus.

glupson
7,842 posts
 
geoffkait,

"Why would the governors and states recommended making your own mask?"
Did you have to? Now, we will get into political conspiracy theories.
heaudio123
689 posts
 
Pretty obvious from your posts and mine geoffkait, who knows what they are talking about ... it is not you.


geoffkait21,738 posts05-14-2020 5:59pmheaudio123, you’re even more gullible than I already thought. Most so called n95 masks are not even n95 spec.

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