WEIRD NEWS

23 April 2020

I had a surprisingly good night of sleep last night.  But I woke up to weird news.  First, let's go to our glorious leader's daily virus update.

First Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was quoted in the Washington Post as saying that the virus will probably return in the winter and that it might be more difficult.  "We're going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time," he said.

At the virus briefing, our glorious leader said  that Redfield was "totally misquoted by Fake News @CNN."  "Totally misquoted. I spoke to him. He said it was ridiculous," Trump continued. "He was talking about the flu and corona coming together at the same time. And corona could be just some little flare-ups that we'll take care of. We're going to knock it out, we'll knock it out fast, but that's what he was referring to, coming together at the same time."

When Redfield was asked about that by reporters, he said that he was "accurately quoted."  It is rare that one of Trump's medical experts contradict him right in the virus update.

Trump came back to the podium, saying again that Redfield was "totally misquoted." He added that he was talking about the importance of flu shots and that neither of them could be sure whether COVID-19 would come back in the fall.

Redfield repeated that the virus could definitely come back in the fall.  Trump followed up, proclaiming, "We may not even have corona coming back, just so you understand."

Then Dr. Fauci said "We will have coronavirus in the fall. I am convinced of that."

This is probably why Trump has decided we should "shoot down and destroy" any Iranian gunboats which harass Navy ships.  "Pentagon officials said the tweet was a lawful order though it did not mark a change in the rules of engagement."  He needs a new headline that doesn't concern his "gut feelings" about the coronavirus.

We are starting wars now by Tweet.

Then there is Dr. Rick Bright, lauded as one of the best and brightest in the world of vaccine development.  On Tuesday, healthcare news website Stat News reported Dr. Bright had left his post as the director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. Turns out, Dr. Bright was dismissed from his job at the time he was needed the most. All because he pushed for far more rigorous testing of the drug Trump and Fox News were pushing. Dr. Bright’s comments are nothing short of alarming:

“Sidelining me in the middle of this pandemic and placing politics and cronyism ahead of science puts lives at risk and stunts national efforts to safely and effectively address this urgent public health crisis,” Dr. Bright said.  (read his full statement here.)

A week ago, the Orange One announced that, "“When somebody is the president of the United States, the authority is total and that’s the way it’s got to be. … It’s total. The governors know that.”

Two days later he said reversed himself and said that the governors needed to make the decisions for their own states.

Then when the Georgia governor decided he was going to open his states for such essential businesses as nail salons and bowling alleys, "I told the governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, that I disagree strongly with his decision to open certain facilities which are in violation of the phase one guidelines for the incredible people of Georgia. They're incredible people. I love those people. They are -- they're great. They've been strong, resolute. But, at the same time, he must do what he thinks is right. I want him to do what he thinks is right, but I disagree with him on what he's doing. But I want to let the governors do -- now, if I see something totally egregious, totally out of line, I'll do. But I think spas and beauty salons and tattoo parlors and barbershops in phase one -- we're going to have phase two very soon -- is just too soon. I think it's too soon."

Why does anybody believe this guy?

But all the weird news wasn't out of Washington.  There are two cats somewhere on the east coast--in two different states--which have tested positive for CoVID-19.  Newscasters reassure us that it's still OK to have pets, but they don't know how these cats contracted the disease.

There is a police department somewhere that has developed a drone that can fly over a city, film people and be able to tell whether or not they show signs of the virus.  How strange is that???  If you find someone standing in line to buy toilet paper how do you let him/her know that she shows signs of the virus, according to their drone ... and do we want a drone that is going to monitor people all the  time?  Big brother really lives.

And then in addition to the coronavirus, we are having destructive tornados in the southeast and earthquakes in California. 

I really think I need to go read the Book of Revelation. 

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Last night I made what is absolutely, positively the easiest recipe I have ever made (even easier than the recipe called "Mom's Night Off," which is a Tater Tot casserole with only 4 ingredients).  It's called "Mustard Surprise" and the surprise is how good it is.  Take boneless, skinless chicken thighs (but I suspect any cut of chicken will do).  Cover it in "cheap yellow mustard" (the recipe specifies NOT Dijon), and then bake for 45 minutes at 350.  It's delicious, moist and doesn't really taste like mustard, but has a mild flavor that is delicious.  It will definitely go on my "make regularly" list of foods, along with "Joe Special."  The hardest part of this recipe is washing the mustard off your hands.