I wonder how many hospital patients (and nursing home residents) died during the Covid lock-downs because they were denied loved ones who could advocate for them.
Thank you for saying this; IMO it NEEDED to be said. 4 yrs ago my husband had a kidney stone but didn't know it. By the time he was suddenly babbling inanely (I'm not exagerrating here), I realized he need to go to ER. He was diagnosed not only with kidney stone but also heart failure, renal failure and kidney failure. Doctor said he had 50% chance of surviving. Because of this wonderful doctor who saved his life, husband survived but had to be taken to a hospital 3 hrs drive away. I would have gone with him and stayed with him for the 11 days he was in hospital but at that time no one was allowed to visit their loved ones in the hospital. So I called every single day but wasn't there on sight to be with him. Because of that, he was twice given PCR "test: (inventor of PCR said it should NEVER be used as a test as it would always give false positive) When they jab you with a stick and put it up as far up your nasal passage as possible, it touches blood brain barrier - this is NEVER a good thing and will cause brain damage. My husband never gave his consent for this procedure, which is against Nuremberg Code/Treaty, as no one is allowed to be given medical treatment without their consent. I later found out PCR causes Parkinson's. This is what my husband was finally diagnosed with a few months ago. This is what happens when the loved ones are not allowed to stay with the patient. I'm probably just lucky he didn't die.
Fortunately, about 6 months ago Ilearned nicotine patches will cure Parkinson's. Like so many other things we've been lied to about nicotine - it's actually a healing substance and when you think about it Native Americans often live to be very old especially back in the day when they lived on a very healthy, natural diet. It's the other chemicals they put in cigarettes which make you ill and kill you. This info came from Dr. Brian Ardis, he has a website with a video about this on it. Nicotine patches also prevent Alzheimer's and help/cure low thyroid. Today my husband shows no sign of Parkinson's but sadly does have muscle weakness and is wasting away but at least I didn't let the hospital kill him!!
I was hospitalized in 2021 after having major surgery that brought me close to death. One night in the hospital i was throwing up and frantically rang the help button. After waiting about 20 minutes, i got out of bed and PULLING my IV pole behind me i went out into the hall saying weakly “help me, somebody help me”. I had trouble even finding a nurse then. Hospitals are terrible places. Later i reported this to management and of course nothing happened.
I 'went in the out door' to get to my Aunt's emergency room bed, firmly & ultra-quietly (stealth trespass) insisting to stay in the room with her. The 23 rooms were occupied & awaiting transfer to in-patient. Halls full. Masks on patients unable to fend for themselves, without advocacy. Houston Methodist.
We needed some embedded press corps in these hospitals to report this ... but the press was too chicken sh*t to demand that they report on what was really taking place in hospitals.
This story line is a dystopian novel i might have read as entertaining sci-fi in my youth, and yet not thought plausible.
None of my Houston relatives visited my aunt (lockdowns and public behavioral imperatives were too much for most people to resist) when she was shuttled between the nursing home and the ER. They killed my dear Aunt with exactly the protocols ExcessiveDeathsAU describes here:
True here, but I suspect even more true in the UK. During Covid, read some truly horrifying stories of people starved, sedated and then put on DNR status without their consent, when they were in the hospital for something as simple as an appendectomy or dislocated shoulder. These two cases were the lucky ones whose family members removed them from the hospital. The Liverpool Care Pathway (that used an entire year’s worth of injectable midazolam (Versed) in three months) has reportedly been abandoned, but I suspect it persists in some form under another name. I’m still horrified. Any UK folks care to chime in?
ExcessiveDeathsAU relates this with links to many such examples. See his link posted in this thread on BR jr's reply above.
How do the care workers live with themselves after their "work"?! I read the nursinghome duty station report of my Aunt's ordeal months later when i returned to Houston. Was angry, helpless and wept on the spot.
Number 1 is a great suggestion to call the hospital.
And for number 2, my husband has health problems i did not want to compound by having him spend every night with me. I know a woman who spent every night by her sick husband’s bedside when he was in the hospital and it just about KILLED her. Sadly the best solution is for people who have money, they hire a night nurse. Ans i guess the rest of us peasants are just out of luck if we are in the hospital😬.
If possible, recruit friends and family to stop by, even briefly at various times. You are correct that spouses need to pace themselves, but get to know the staff and you can often get an idea of the best time to leave for awhile. If the patient is sedated for any reason, insist on an oxygen sensor.
One other note about this hospital: i later found out that there was a nurse (although she was not my nurse while i was there) who was having an affair with the security guard. They would get “busy” in the stairwell or parking lot during the night shift. Most nurses are wonderful so i am not knocking nurses.
I've worked in many restaurants. I would've said something way sooner than you did. I called the hospital my dad was in at all hours of the night in 2022 because he was saying they were going to kill him. I showed up at 6am (non visiting hours) and demanded to see him. My mom was in a care home during lockdown and I called them at all hours as well. I'm that person too. There needs to be more of us!
"Sir, these workers are very busy. They are doing the very best they can. They will get to you as soon as they can. You are being rude.”
When? After closing?
A) Talk about presumption.I bet you if this happened to her she wouldn't tolerate it. B) How would she know they're doing the best they can? C) Isn't taking payment paramount for any business?
Yes. Taking payment is the last chance you have at doing a professional job for your patron. Blow it here, and everything you’ve done right in the customer experience up to this point is shot down. Yes, I spent my life in running and owning restaurants, as if you didn’t know. Lol! Sorry. I take this stuff personally 😃
These days, if the owner or manager isn't present, general employees just don't seem to care about the customers or the business that employs them. They are 'entitled' to a job and pay...
I worked in restaurants serving and bartending for 15 years, many moons ago, and even when in the weeds big time, I would still look around and communicate with customers needing something. It’s the lack of acknowledgement- the server/hostess or whomever could simply acknowledge you and hold index finger to ask for your patience. Communication goes a long way.
No you were not rude and I doubt I’d wait 25 minutes. What is rude is the lack of acknowledgement and communication in any type of service industry and it’s seems too prevalent these days.
I thought the same thing, Liz. It seems like some employee would have caught my eye and signalled to me, "I know. I'll get to you as fast as I can" ... but this didn't happen either. So the employees either didn't care or were oblivious to a customer that was becoming increasingly irate.
I'd have given AT MAX ten minutes. I'd say you had the patience of a saint. I too work with the public as a pharmacist overnight I am the only face you will see and make a point to acknowledge someone is there either by saying I will be right with you or a thumbs up (or 1 minute finger) or I'm on the phone gesture (since I use a headset). NO ONE has to wait for more than ten minutes for me to do anything unless it was an insanely busy night, which most people are smart enough to see with their own eyes and kind enough to be understanding of. And believe me when I tell you I am checking things way more important than your bill total or whether or not you put your bowling shoes back (not that those aren't important but they won't kill you either). I have even had a customer tell me recently, right before we hung up, hey! Take a deep breath, I appreciate your time and help, you got this. I blessed her and ...took a deep breath. Did I mention that treating people with concern for their issue, compassion and your best help really does pay off? Well it does!
You are so right. This opens up an enormous opportunity for the entrepreneur that identifies this and acts on it. You could make a gazillion bucks in business just by identifying what you call the shitification factor: and acting on it.
We all sold out when the opportunity arose because government overreach and red tape made it impossible to continue. Or at least I did. I took my excellent customer service and sharp mind to another city to work for "the man" in a big corporation. It sucks but as a sole proprietor in a small town I was losing my mind. We are still out there you just have to run into us at the right places. You will recognize us by our competence, smile, willingness to go the extra mile, and ability to walk and chew gum.
Mr. Rice details the story perfectly- if you draw attention to the mediocre or worse service you are the aggressor and villain.
I had a pep-talk this week from my stepdaughter about not revealing my disemployment for declining the clot shot. "That might offend them and they will never listen to your story." But then I will not have to wait 25 minutes for someone to wake up!
I agree with you. I had a similar experience at a bank. When I finally got to the young woman teller I asked,”Who is the most important person in the bank at this moment?” She responded after thinking for a moment, The manager I guess.” I replied, “No, you’re looking at him.” I explained to her that I was closing my account due to the bank’s poor customer service. There were others working I the bank that could have opened another desk but they let the line build about 5 deep behind me.
Nothing is worse than being made to feel you’re invisible. Or, they know you’re there, but just don’t care. What’s infuriating is the fact that I would rather die than belittle somebody as they were doing you. It becomes an insult to you as a person:like you literally don’t exist. Whew! I already feel better!
Those in the service industry know better. They should always be glancing around to see if someone needs something. That's part of their job description. And as for nurses and aids, that is a nightmare.
Management sets the tone for the customer experience. Slacker manager, slacker employee. They ALL are commissioned salespeople. Why jeopardize your tip?
I've always known you to be a reasonable man Mr. Rice, guessing this must have been one of those strange karma moments that comes around every few years, a perfect storm situation were the universe was testing your patience.
Thanks, Jeffrey. Our fraternity brother Wes Gaylard gave me the nickname "Snap" because he's seen first-hand that nice, easy-going Bill can flip in an instant.
Bill— the one who was rude was that lady who chided you. She should have have minded her own business.
I don't know her, I wasn't there, but I have often seen older people with some brain damage behave like that. They don't like something, they lash out, without thinking.
As for speaking up for care in the hospital, you had better be ready to do that or your loved one might die, I got that damned straight and early in life.
That was my take-away too. It was the response of the lady next to me that really made me snap back ... pretty hard. That and the fact I sensed everyone else agreed with this lady . IMO This was a microcosm of one of the things that's wrong with America today.
There's a possibility that something that sounds a lot like "no one's talking to you, cupid stunt" would've made its way out of my lips in that situation directed at her.
I’m honestly flabbergasted at your patience in having waited 25 mins - to me it warranted 10 mins max, and any establishment that can’t handle customers’ needs to even be allowed to exit in timely fashion is not operating at a sufficient level (or adequate staffing) to assure complete satisfaction for all parties (which can include workers’ tips, and return business moreover). I really enjoyed the way you described the entire episode, and it’s possible you unwittingly chose the regulars’ side of the bar where people can get personally charged in defense of their pals, thus perceiving any action of yours beyond full passivity as rudeness. All the best, and glad things ended up fine for your son’s birthday too.
I had to make a concerted effort to wait 25 minutes (maybe it was 23) before speaking up. I'm working on my "snap" episodes. At some point, they just come out.
I moved from central Illinois to S central Kansas almost 30 years ago. I noticed right away after we moved here, that there were considerably more obese people here - especially young people. I'm betting that regular consumption of frozen pizza, cheap fast food, and corn syrup fortified soft drinks had a head start here over Illinois. Seems the whole country has caught up by now however.
Funny you write that, about the same time frame I had occasion to go to Kansas City. I was astonished at the number of fat people. Like everyone was fat, not just fat but obese. I thought maybe I was in some sort of strange world.
I noticed this when the family took a vacation to Disney World about two years ago. About 70 percent of the people I saw were either obese or over-weight (I guess I was one of these people).
I was stunned by the number of people who had to rent motorized carts to get around the parks. That was the biggest concession at Disney World.
The world depicted in the movie "Wal-E" has almost arrived.
I wonder how many hospital patients (and nursing home residents) died during the Covid lock-downs because they were denied loved ones who could advocate for them.
The figure is probably stunning.
Thank you for saying this; IMO it NEEDED to be said. 4 yrs ago my husband had a kidney stone but didn't know it. By the time he was suddenly babbling inanely (I'm not exagerrating here), I realized he need to go to ER. He was diagnosed not only with kidney stone but also heart failure, renal failure and kidney failure. Doctor said he had 50% chance of surviving. Because of this wonderful doctor who saved his life, husband survived but had to be taken to a hospital 3 hrs drive away. I would have gone with him and stayed with him for the 11 days he was in hospital but at that time no one was allowed to visit their loved ones in the hospital. So I called every single day but wasn't there on sight to be with him. Because of that, he was twice given PCR "test: (inventor of PCR said it should NEVER be used as a test as it would always give false positive) When they jab you with a stick and put it up as far up your nasal passage as possible, it touches blood brain barrier - this is NEVER a good thing and will cause brain damage. My husband never gave his consent for this procedure, which is against Nuremberg Code/Treaty, as no one is allowed to be given medical treatment without their consent. I later found out PCR causes Parkinson's. This is what my husband was finally diagnosed with a few months ago. This is what happens when the loved ones are not allowed to stay with the patient. I'm probably just lucky he didn't die.
Fortunately, about 6 months ago Ilearned nicotine patches will cure Parkinson's. Like so many other things we've been lied to about nicotine - it's actually a healing substance and when you think about it Native Americans often live to be very old especially back in the day when they lived on a very healthy, natural diet. It's the other chemicals they put in cigarettes which make you ill and kill you. This info came from Dr. Brian Ardis, he has a website with a video about this on it. Nicotine patches also prevent Alzheimer's and help/cure low thyroid. Today my husband shows no sign of Parkinson's but sadly does have muscle weakness and is wasting away but at least I didn't let the hospital kill him!!
I was hospitalized in 2021 after having major surgery that brought me close to death. One night in the hospital i was throwing up and frantically rang the help button. After waiting about 20 minutes, i got out of bed and PULLING my IV pole behind me i went out into the hall saying weakly “help me, somebody help me”. I had trouble even finding a nurse then. Hospitals are terrible places. Later i reported this to management and of course nothing happened.
Just read 2 very interesting hospital suggestions (if you want to get out alive):
1. If the buzzer doesnʻt work, pick up a phone and CALL the hospital -- then ask for the nurseʻs station for your room number.
2. Have someone with you AT ALL TIMES to be your advocate.
No advocates during the Covid lockdowns probably killed hundreds of thousands of patients.
I honestly believe your number!
I 'went in the out door' to get to my Aunt's emergency room bed, firmly & ultra-quietly (stealth trespass) insisting to stay in the room with her. The 23 rooms were occupied & awaiting transfer to in-patient. Halls full. Masks on patients unable to fend for themselves, without advocacy. Houston Methodist.
A criminal action, not a theory!!
We needed some embedded press corps in these hospitals to report this ... but the press was too chicken sh*t to demand that they report on what was really taking place in hospitals.
If only!!
This story line is a dystopian novel i might have read as entertaining sci-fi in my youth, and yet not thought plausible.
None of my Houston relatives visited my aunt (lockdowns and public behavioral imperatives were too much for most people to resist) when she was shuttled between the nursing home and the ER. They killed my dear Aunt with exactly the protocols ExcessiveDeathsAU describes here:
https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=1099375&post_id=158640805&utm_source=post-email-title&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1l8hbj&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo5NjEzMzgwNywicG9zdF9pZCI6MTU4NjQwODA1LCJpYXQiOjE3NDE0MzMwOTYsImV4cCI6MTc0NDAyNTA5NiwiaXNzIjoicHViLTEwOTkzNzUiLCJzdWIiOiJwb3N0LXJlYWN0aW9uIn0.KTbucfQIBmuRwRM6pE3yAO-hGEQObGxQrbv7kqBeglM
True here, but I suspect even more true in the UK. During Covid, read some truly horrifying stories of people starved, sedated and then put on DNR status without their consent, when they were in the hospital for something as simple as an appendectomy or dislocated shoulder. These two cases were the lucky ones whose family members removed them from the hospital. The Liverpool Care Pathway (that used an entire year’s worth of injectable midazolam (Versed) in three months) has reportedly been abandoned, but I suspect it persists in some form under another name. I’m still horrified. Any UK folks care to chime in?
Big, big, big (unreported) scandal. Thanks for adding this anecdote - which I've seen reported many times in the (ignored) alternative press.
ExcessiveDeathsAU relates this with links to many such examples. See his link posted in this thread on BR jr's reply above.
How do the care workers live with themselves after their "work"?! I read the nursinghome duty station report of my Aunt's ordeal months later when i returned to Houston. Was angry, helpless and wept on the spot.
🙏
I call it what it is: murder.
Number 1 is a great suggestion to call the hospital.
And for number 2, my husband has health problems i did not want to compound by having him spend every night with me. I know a woman who spent every night by her sick husband’s bedside when he was in the hospital and it just about KILLED her. Sadly the best solution is for people who have money, they hire a night nurse. Ans i guess the rest of us peasants are just out of luck if we are in the hospital😬.
I hired one for my Aunt. They billed Medicare for 4 days (2 night service)!
Fraud. Covid fraud. Code:007
😜
If possible, recruit friends and family to stop by, even briefly at various times. You are correct that spouses need to pace themselves, but get to know the staff and you can often get an idea of the best time to leave for awhile. If the patient is sedated for any reason, insist on an oxygen sensor.
Amazing. What’s REALLY bad is there’s nothing that you can do about it
One other note about this hospital: i later found out that there was a nurse (although she was not my nurse while i was there) who was having an affair with the security guard. They would get “busy” in the stairwell or parking lot during the night shift. Most nurses are wonderful so i am not knocking nurses.
I've worked in many restaurants. I would've said something way sooner than you did. I called the hospital my dad was in at all hours of the night in 2022 because he was saying they were going to kill him. I showed up at 6am (non visiting hours) and demanded to see him. My mom was in a care home during lockdown and I called them at all hours as well. I'm that person too. There needs to be more of us!
Yes. Excellent.
"Sir, these workers are very busy. They are doing the very best they can. They will get to you as soon as they can. You are being rude.”
When? After closing?
A) Talk about presumption.I bet you if this happened to her she wouldn't tolerate it. B) How would she know they're doing the best they can? C) Isn't taking payment paramount for any business?
That's just poor customer service. Period.
Yes. Taking payment is the last chance you have at doing a professional job for your patron. Blow it here, and everything you’ve done right in the customer experience up to this point is shot down. Yes, I spent my life in running and owning restaurants, as if you didn’t know. Lol! Sorry. I take this stuff personally 😃
These days, if the owner or manager isn't present, general employees just don't seem to care about the customers or the business that employs them. They are 'entitled' to a job and pay...
I worked in restaurants serving and bartending for 15 years, many moons ago, and even when in the weeds big time, I would still look around and communicate with customers needing something. It’s the lack of acknowledgement- the server/hostess or whomever could simply acknowledge you and hold index finger to ask for your patience. Communication goes a long way.
No you were not rude and I doubt I’d wait 25 minutes. What is rude is the lack of acknowledgement and communication in any type of service industry and it’s seems too prevalent these days.
I thought the same thing, Liz. It seems like some employee would have caught my eye and signalled to me, "I know. I'll get to you as fast as I can" ... but this didn't happen either. So the employees either didn't care or were oblivious to a customer that was becoming increasingly irate.
I'd have given AT MAX ten minutes. I'd say you had the patience of a saint. I too work with the public as a pharmacist overnight I am the only face you will see and make a point to acknowledge someone is there either by saying I will be right with you or a thumbs up (or 1 minute finger) or I'm on the phone gesture (since I use a headset). NO ONE has to wait for more than ten minutes for me to do anything unless it was an insanely busy night, which most people are smart enough to see with their own eyes and kind enough to be understanding of. And believe me when I tell you I am checking things way more important than your bill total or whether or not you put your bowling shoes back (not that those aren't important but they won't kill you either). I have even had a customer tell me recently, right before we hung up, hey! Take a deep breath, I appreciate your time and help, you got this. I blessed her and ...took a deep breath. Did I mention that treating people with concern for their issue, compassion and your best help really does pay off? Well it does!
I call this the "Shitification of America." It is everywhere. Shitty service is delivered and no one speaks up. It has become the norm.
You are so right. This opens up an enormous opportunity for the entrepreneur that identifies this and acts on it. You could make a gazillion bucks in business just by identifying what you call the shitification factor: and acting on it.
Oh please, where are these entrepreneurs??!
We're all starved of courtesy. I don't think those participation trophies are working out well.
We all sold out when the opportunity arose because government overreach and red tape made it impossible to continue. Or at least I did. I took my excellent customer service and sharp mind to another city to work for "the man" in a big corporation. It sucks but as a sole proprietor in a small town I was losing my mind. We are still out there you just have to run into us at the right places. You will recognize us by our competence, smile, willingness to go the extra mile, and ability to walk and chew gum.
Bless your heart!
I don't chew gum - bad optics and I'm not as coordinated as i once was, but i know exactly what you mean and i haven't given up all hope. ♥️
I love that! Lol
It is worse than you say.
Mr. Rice details the story perfectly- if you draw attention to the mediocre or worse service you are the aggressor and villain.
I had a pep-talk this week from my stepdaughter about not revealing my disemployment for declining the clot shot. "That might offend them and they will never listen to your story." But then I will not have to wait 25 minutes for someone to wake up!
I agree with you. I had a similar experience at a bank. When I finally got to the young woman teller I asked,”Who is the most important person in the bank at this moment?” She responded after thinking for a moment, The manager I guess.” I replied, “No, you’re looking at him.” I explained to her that I was closing my account due to the bank’s poor customer service. There were others working I the bank that could have opened another desk but they let the line build about 5 deep behind me.
Nothing is worse than being made to feel you’re invisible. Or, they know you’re there, but just don’t care. What’s infuriating is the fact that I would rather die than belittle somebody as they were doing you. It becomes an insult to you as a person:like you literally don’t exist. Whew! I already feel better!
Those in the service industry know better. They should always be glancing around to see if someone needs something. That's part of their job description. And as for nurses and aids, that is a nightmare.
Management sets the tone for the customer experience. Slacker manager, slacker employee. They ALL are commissioned salespeople. Why jeopardize your tip?
You waited 25 minutes? That was 20 minutes too long for me....
I've never waited that long to speak up before ... and I still got reprimanded by my neighbor at the bar.
I've always known you to be a reasonable man Mr. Rice, guessing this must have been one of those strange karma moments that comes around every few years, a perfect storm situation were the universe was testing your patience.
Thanks, Jeffrey. Our fraternity brother Wes Gaylard gave me the nickname "Snap" because he's seen first-hand that nice, easy-going Bill can flip in an instant.
LOL, well we don't want a "SNAP" at a kid's event! Way to stay cool...
Exactly, I would have waited 10 min max and gone back to the party. They would have had to come after me for the funds.
I worked in retail customer service for years and bc of my service lots of times customers were surprised when they found out I wasn't management.
I told one of my recurring customers " the cream doesn't always rise to the top".
Bill— the one who was rude was that lady who chided you. She should have have minded her own business.
I don't know her, I wasn't there, but I have often seen older people with some brain damage behave like that. They don't like something, they lash out, without thinking.
As for speaking up for care in the hospital, you had better be ready to do that or your loved one might die, I got that damned straight and early in life.
That was my take-away too. It was the response of the lady next to me that really made me snap back ... pretty hard. That and the fact I sensed everyone else agreed with this lady . IMO This was a microcosm of one of the things that's wrong with America today.
There's a possibility that something that sounds a lot like "no one's talking to you, cupid stunt" would've made its way out of my lips in that situation directed at her.
I’m honestly flabbergasted at your patience in having waited 25 mins - to me it warranted 10 mins max, and any establishment that can’t handle customers’ needs to even be allowed to exit in timely fashion is not operating at a sufficient level (or adequate staffing) to assure complete satisfaction for all parties (which can include workers’ tips, and return business moreover). I really enjoyed the way you described the entire episode, and it’s possible you unwittingly chose the regulars’ side of the bar where people can get personally charged in defense of their pals, thus perceiving any action of yours beyond full passivity as rudeness. All the best, and glad things ended up fine for your son’s birthday too.
I had to make a concerted effort to wait 25 minutes (maybe it was 23) before speaking up. I'm working on my "snap" episodes. At some point, they just come out.
Just that my fuse for such toleration is a lot shorter, so it’s relative for sure - and I think you handled yourself admirably too. Nice evening Bill.
NOT A CHANCE that Iʻm going to wait 25 minutes. 5 maybe. Maybe not even that long. You are way too soft.
I’m right there with you brother, only I probably would have waited only 10 minutes to be rude😂
You didn’t tell me about this 😂😂😂
Otherwise, we all had such a ... good time. Glad you didn't see this ... but you can confirm I was gone for a long time.
Busted!
He doesn't want you worried or anxious.
You have a gem there, lady!
Yes!
😹
I moved from central Illinois to S central Kansas almost 30 years ago. I noticed right away after we moved here, that there were considerably more obese people here - especially young people. I'm betting that regular consumption of frozen pizza, cheap fast food, and corn syrup fortified soft drinks had a head start here over Illinois. Seems the whole country has caught up by now however.
Funny you write that, about the same time frame I had occasion to go to Kansas City. I was astonished at the number of fat people. Like everyone was fat, not just fat but obese. I thought maybe I was in some sort of strange world.
I noticed this when the family took a vacation to Disney World about two years ago. About 70 percent of the people I saw were either obese or over-weight (I guess I was one of these people).
I was stunned by the number of people who had to rent motorized carts to get around the parks. That was the biggest concession at Disney World.
The world depicted in the movie "Wal-E" has almost arrived.