Breaking Bad-ly

As a lad I worked in a pharmacy - the old fashioned name was apothecary with the jars of red and green liquid in the window. (Sort of port and starboard arrangement.)  New York State has enlisted hundreds of pharmacists to perform Covid tests which makes us all proud of these professionals. So I was dismayed to read in the NYT datelined Auburn, Nebraska of a pharmacist dealing in opioids conspiring with a drug dealer. His establishment was called "Family Value Pharmacy". He needed more drugs to keep his side business going so he/they planned to firebomb a rival pharmacy and steal opioids and increase the amount of drugs he could order. Apparently, Covid hasn't reached Auburn yet. As the Chicago BlackSox young fan cried "Say it isn't so, Joe!" One bad apple in the barrel.
tjs
(NYT 4/23/20)

Sheltering in Place IV

-Calendar of events - cancellations.

-The National Spelling Bee - so now we don't have to fret trying to spell all the virus terminology.

-The Running of the Bulls at Pamplona, Spain. (July) So I guess it depends on "whose ox is gored."
- The Oktoberfest in Munich, Bavaria. This means no Oompah music and we can put those steins back on the shelf.

Still scheduled -

-  The NFL draft but maintaining social distance.

- Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Show. Vouched by Mayor de Blasio. This on the heels of Macy furloughing 100,000 employees nationwide.
tjs

Sheltering in Place III

-The Trump Hotel on Pennsylvania Ave. pays a monthly lease of $268,000 to their landlord General Services Administration (GSA) who is part of the Trump Administration. Since all the lobbyists and hangers-on have disappeared, the Trump organization is seeking some relief.

-The NYT crossword puzzle for 4/22 clue reads "Orangish shade" eight letters - the answer is "coralred" so Potus' hairdresser might want to get updated on the tint of his pomade.
tjs

Sheltering in Place II

A small town in Indiana, pop. 6000 has finally been touched by the virus. Their two most prominent employers are a coffin maker and a manufacturer of medical supplies - perhaps not in that order.

-POTUS exhortation to LIBERATE Virginia betrays his lack of historical knowledge as Virginia was one of the first states to secede from the Union in 1861. I don't think they plan on leaving again.

I can still hear Judy Garland singing "Oh, how I wish again that I could be in Michigan, down on the farm". But those weren't farmers yelling "Lock her up!" Just sayin'! Stay safe.
tjs

Are there any news?

-Have you noticed that the WH briefings are far from brief?
-Alcohol consumption in Russia has spiked as a result of the virus. One patient confessed "I decided to decontaminate myself with alcohol."

I have been waiting six weeks for an IRS refund. I hope its delay is not waiting for Potus signature.

POTUS latest gambit is forming an "Opening our country council" - a list of 200 names across various industries - some blindsided by their appointment - to communicate via conference calls..........I did a double take when I heard my former employer mentioned!
tjs

Casino Royale

There are 989 casinos in the country - all shut down because of the "virus". Just as they were anticipating a bonanza season, they lost March Madness, The Masters and Kentucky Derby in one fell swoop. NYT writes that they are joining numerous other industries in asking for Federal Aid!! Yes, you heard right. So this means a billionaire mogul, Sheldon Adelson, a large Trump donor with casinos in Vegas and Macao (near Hong Kong) will be at the trough for Federal dollars - (read taxpayers dollars). Mon dieu! In the meanwhile, gamblers will have to do with a coin flip, red or black, or maybe three card monte on the sidewalk. So what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay there.
tjs
(NYT 4/6/20)

"not essential"

The Brits have blanched over some of the new conditions placed upon them. Certain activities have been considered "not essential." One community is using drones to scatter groups considered "not essential". And small stores have been instructed that they should not sell chocolate Easter eggs because they are "non- essential." But unlike France, Britons do not have to fill out paper work to go outside. But one group placed black dye in a quarry pool to discourage swimming. All this on the heels of learning that Prince Charles and Boris Johnson have proved positive and they are not over Brexit yet. Hail Britannia! Stiff upper lip!
tjs
(NYT 4/2/20)