Did police brutality end? Have not heard about it for a month or so? No significant protests or marches on the national news, nothing. It’s a miracle. Joe Biden is good at this President-elect stuff.
I like what the NFL is doing on racism. Well thought-out ads that help promote a reasonable and rational discussion and acknowledgement of the problems that we face as a society. The problem is those public service spots are well prepared by professional image makers in nice socially distanced offices somewhere. I suspect it is all going to fall apart when the next “issue” emerges. The next issue is always when the national media tells us to be outraged, and they rush to judgment to indict and paint a guilty party. National entertainment figures are quick to jump in with their instant judgment as well, ending the rational discussion and sending both sides of the issues back to their respective corners.
The next issue that is on the horizon is going to be the acquittal of some of the Minnesota police officers involved in the George Floyd case. The public pressure to indict all of them has made for a difficult position for prosecutors. Any good defense lawyer is going to put up quite a fight in a couple of the officers’ cases, who probably would not have been charged if not for the public calls to charge them. Any good prosecutor would be begging to settle a couple of the cases by plea bargain, but against the public trial that has already taken place, that will be difficult.
It’s a situation that is ripe to create more racial strife, instead of less.
My continued search to find socially distant entertainment led me to the new T-Shotz at Metro North area last weekend. I’m a romantic guy, so I took my wife there to watch the Mizzou game and swing some sticks. Yes, I still call the area Metro North, and I will forever, whatever they rebrand it. Personally, I think the redevelopment that is underway is being disrespectful if they don’t put in some of those balloons going up and down, paying homage to the mall life we all once lived.
Anyway, it’s a pretty good entertainment option. The place had a good mix of families with kids, golfers with khakis and other romantic couples like us in the place. It’s relatively warm enough and it’s outside and you can’t catch COVID if you socially distance, stay outside and drink beer.
Ok, that is not medically proven, but it’s the rule of thumb advice from a non-medical expert.
Speaking of the COVID, I have now officially recovered from the COVID. I am grateful that my symptoms were mild. Here’s the main takeaway from a mild symptom person. No, I do not know where I caught the COVID, who would know? First symptoms were allergy-like. The day I knew it was a problem was a random Wednesday when I had a headache that made me feel like I had drank a fifth of Everclear the night before. For the record, I have never drank a fifth of Everclear.
The next day, my smell was gone, completely. That was “the moment” I knew for sure. Took two days for test result to come back. I can best describe the early onset as a multi-day hangover or if you ever had the kissing disease (mononucleosis) is a good descriptor. Fatigue that is crazy. I’ve not used an alarm clock in 25 years, but I could have used one during this time period, as I wanted to sleep a bunch. Smell is coming back slightly after five weeks. Brain fog remains an issue, but maybe that’s wear and tear of my younger days, we will probably never know.
Can’t think of many positives, but not being able to smell makes it easier to clean up dog poop and makes you care less about deodorant; so, I suppose that is a positive.
I would join the local health professionals and recommend against catching it, though.
(Guy Speckman can be reached at gspeckman@me.com or at romantic, socially distanced venues)