Coronavirus - The Rambling Mind

"I wonder what tomorrow has in mind for me,
Or even if I'm in it's mind at all.
Perhaps. I'll get a chance to look ahead and see,
As soon as I find myself a crystal ball......"

                                                 - Tommy Shaw


So, here we start another week of "social distancing" and the finish line just moved a little further down the track. Yesterday, we got word from our Governor that we will be "sheltering in place" for the unforeseeable future. Ode to joy....

With all of the downtime that many of us will face, it's inevitable that our minds will wander. I have been thinking about how the COVID-19 crisis will affect our behavior going forward. For instance, will the traditional handshake become a thing of the past? I can remember playing a tennis match years ago. After the match, it's normal "tennis etiquette" for the players to meet at the net and shake hands. Well, after a competitive match, I met my opponent at the net and extended my hand to him. Surprisingly, he offered me a "fist bump" instead, explaining that he doesn't shake hands because of germs. My first reaction had me feeling a bit offended. I mean I shower every day and have relatively good overall hygiene. I even floss regularly. So, why would this guy think that I had germs? But nonetheless, I obliged him with his anticipated fist bump and moved on. But now I'm wondering if he was actually onto something.

I also wonder about the purchasing trends of toilet paper as we move past this crisis. Will people continue to stock up for a "rainy day"? Or will they go back to living dangerously? Let me mention this.....never underestimate the power of a high fiber diet during these trying times. This also leads me to wonder how many trees can be saved by one container of MetaMucil.

Through the years, we have all seen those images of random people donning surgeons's masks in places like China and Indonesia. But through the past couple of weeks, I have seen this same image at my local grocery and hardware stores. You expect to see a mask on the guy finishing your drywall but not on the cashier at Walgreens. I'm wondering if this trend will continue even after the coronavirus moves out.

With the shortage of personal protective equipment, ventilators and other critical materials, will there be a push for more manufacturing of these items here in the US? Our dependence on overseas manufacturing has been fully exposed during this global crisis. Will this be a catalyst to bring back some of those manufacturing jobs to the States?

Since these contagious viruses make their rounds every few years. I can't help but wonder how the next one will be handled. Will we see impulsive toilet paper runs followed by mandatory shut-downs?

Overcoming a crisis often requires teamwork and unity. Although it has not been without contention, I like some of the recent bi-partisan efforts I've seen. Will this crisis help mend at least a few fences along the way? For the good of America, let's hope so.

And lastly, I'm wondering how we'll evaluate "essential" employees in the future. It goes without saying that our military, first responders and healthcare workers are, and always will be essential. No matter how dire the circumstances, these folks always step up to the plate and deliver. These guys are, no doubt, in a class all by themselves. But what about some of the people that work "ordinary" jobs? The cashier at your your local grocery store, the truck driver who delivers the essential goods, the service people who keep the gears turning, the mail carrier who brings you that stimulus check, the sanitation worker who picks up your trash ....all of these people are out there working hard to make our lives a little more convenient. So, if you happen to cross their path in the near future, give them a smile and a nod of appreciation.

Looking forward to the days when all of this is behind us. Until then, stay safe and think positive thoughts...

kw



            
           

Coronavirus - A Message of Hope

"Sometimes in our lives we all have pain, we all have sorrow.
But if we are wise, we know that there's always tomorrow......"
                                                                                - Bill Withers


Watching the news today is much like watching a train wreck. While you want to stay in tune with what's going on, it always ends with you feeling afraid and hopeless. The media feeds you doom and gloom with every passing story. Fear and outrage may be detrimental but, ironically, they are good for ratings.

While we should be very concerned about the coronavirus, we should not let it paralyze us with fear and hopelessness. Yes, things are bad. I'm not denying that. But are we supposed to bet it all on red and then jump off of the nearest cliff? Of course, not! We need to maintain confidence that we will get through this. We have prevailed from dire circumstances in the past. And we will do the same in this one. This is America, dammit!

The key to getting through this is unity. We, as a country, need to band to together and support one another. Remember that American spirit in the days shortly after the 9/11 attacks? Although we felt beaten and weary, we came together as a country. We picked each other up, dusted one another off and demonstrated to the world that America will indeed get back up every time!

In these trying times, there will surely be frustration and criticism. But try to leave that on the back-burner for now. What we need to do now is focus on getting through this dilemma. The biggest sacrifice for most of us is to remain isolated until this blows over. Trust me, I get it. I'm a social person and I love interacting with people. But I look at this as a minor inconvenience in the overall scheme of things. Let's all try to do our part to help the situation.

Many of us will have plenty of downtime in the upcoming day. Use that time to read a good book or maybe watch that classic movie that you're never seen. If you've meaning to catch up with an old friend but haven't been able to find the time...well, here's a good opportunity to pick up the phone or shoot an email. Take the time to reflect on and appreciate life.

Summing everything up, I'd like to borrow a little inspiration from Jimmy Valvano*. If you don't know who he was, Jimmy was the men's basketball coach for NC State back in the 70's/80's. His story is an incredible one, He transformed his personal tragedy into motivation for countless people. Essentially, while he was in the final days of his cancer fight, he gave one of the most inspirational speeches ever (It touches me so much that I still get emotional every time I think of it). In a nut shell, he basically tells us that no matter what tough times you're going through in life, don't stop fighting and don't ever give up.

Feeling the spirit of Jimmy V, I would ask each of you to keep the faith and to not give up on us! Don't ever give up on America!

kw

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Valvano

Coronavirus - The Reaction

"It's the end of the world as we know it.
And I feel fine....."
                                              - R.E.M.


Let me just jump right into to it.....When I first heard of the Corona virus, I misinterpreted it as the Carnivorous virus. My thoughts ran wild with images of a flesh-eating disease that would propel us into some type of zombie apocalypse. My fears were eased when I confirmed that it was actually the coronavirus. While still to be taken seriously, naming the virus after a light Mexican beer seems just a little more comforting.

With the global pandemic of the coronavirus (aka COVID-19) now in full motion, Americans are scrambling to figure out how to best protect and prepare themselves for the uncertain. Grocery stores are seeing their shelves ravaged by hoards of panicked shoppers. The fear of contracting the coronavirus seems to have taken a backseat to the fear of running out of toilet paper. I don't quite understand this one. From everything that I've gathered, the virus will produce flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, etc). How are people confusing this with an epidemic of explosive diarrhea?

So, the question on everyone's mind is....How bad is this virus? The reality of it is that we really don't know. The best case is that it's an over-hyped media blitz and a relatively small number of people will actually be affected. Worst case is....well, let's don't go there just yet. The bottom line is that until we get the testing ramped up, we are really just speculating.

To date, roughly 156,000 worldwide cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed, with roughly half of that number coming from China. The encouraging news is that roughly half of the overall affected people have already recovered.

In the US, approximately 3000 cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed. The death count currently stands around 40*. While these numbers will inevitably climb, they still have an extremely long way to go before they rival the H1N1 (aka Swine Flu) virus from just a few years in which over 12.000 American deaths occurred. **

When you compare this current crisis to the reaction we had to H1N1, it's understandable to question the motives. While we have to protect our citizens, are we over-reacting as a country? I am not a big conspiracy theorist, but it is indeed an election year. And who was the politician that once said, "Never let a good crisis go to waste"? The political implications can not be denied. With this being said, I really wish that both parties could set aside their political differences in times like this and put the American people first. There will plenty of mud-slinging opportunities later.

So, as more schools and business continue to close, we have to figure out how to trudge through this. I would tell everyone to relax and watch your favorite sporting event. But they are all being cancelled as well. I am really bummed about March Madness being cancelled. I was looking forward to seeing the Maryland Terps make a deep run in the tournament. But we'll to have to wait until next year.

And what about the wild ride on Wall Street last week? I have been trading and investing for 25+ years and I have never seen anything like the recent swings in the market. A record decline today followed by a record gain tomorrow. I have spoken to a lot of people of the past week about this. All that I can say is invest wisely. If you're playing the general market, only invest what you an afford to lose. If you truly believe in a particular stock, look to add to your position on any huge market sell-off.  If you've got 10+ years until retirement, you are going to be fine. The market has always rebounded. If you are retired or are about to retire, you should have your money in secure funds that are minimally affected by any huge market decline. These are just common sense rules of investing.

With all of the uncertainty that still lies ahead, just remember this: We are all in this together and we will get through it. We have some of the best doctors and researchers in the world that are working feverishly to find a solution.

So for now, take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and others but don't buy into all of the doomsday hype. America is still strong and resilient. We will prevail...

kw

* https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

** https://www.cnn.com/2013/08/23/health/h1n1-u-s-fast-facts/index.html

John 5 - Uniquely Brilliant

I've been to many concerts in my life and I've seen a lot of unique guitar players. But last Thursday night, I experienced one of the most bizarre performances that I can ever remember.

First off, the headliner was the 80's hard rock band, Queensryche. They have always been one of my all-time favorite bands. I've seem them several times and they've always put on an awesome show. When I saw that they were playing at the nearby Baltimore Soundstage, I was initially on the fence about going. You see, I just don't do well with late weeknights anymore. Yes, I've grown old over the years and I need a good night's sleep to optimally function the next day. Anyway, when I saw that John 5 was going to be the opening act, I decided that I had to go.

If you don't know who John 5 is, check out some of his performances on YouTube. Yes, the guy is quite strange, but he is also a phenomenal guitar player. I knew I had to see him perform live, even if it was on a Thursday night.

So, when it finally came time for John 5 to take the stage, the bass player and drummer came out first. The bass player was a tall slender guy who looked more like a center for the Boston Celtics. Shortly afterwards, John 5 emerged from the right side of the stage. He slowly transitioned to the intro riff. The rhythm was infectious and it was followed by some predictable shredding. John 5, with his face painted with his signature black and white make-up, presented the image of a avant-garde rock star.

One of the first things that made me raise my eyebrows were the videos that were playing in the background. While John 5 was wailing on his fret-board, graphic scenes from "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" were rolling behind him. And then, the video would transition over to a scene from "The Flintstones". The contrast of a woman on a meat-hook followed by Fred and Barnie at the bowling alley is a lot for a brain to process.

At another point during the show, the band is jamming out to one of John's funky grooves. And then, from the left side of the stage comes this dancing Astronaut. This guy was spinning and bopping to the bass lines like he was John Travolta. At another point of the show, this guy comes out wearing this gigantic John 5 head. He looked like a living John 5 bobble-head doll. Meanwhile, the grind-house movies continue to play on the video screen behind the band. I had been drinking nothing but water all night but I seriously began to wonder if someone had slipped something into my Deer Park. 

About mid-way through the show, John 5 announced that things were about to really get weird. I felt an immediate impulse to run towards the door. But morbid curiosity kept me nailed to my spot on the floor. At this point, John 5 kicked off a melody of song riffs beginning with a couple of classic Rush tunes and then progressing to the likes of Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Van Halen and Soundgarden. During the progression, a bunch of gigantic rubber balls were tossed into the crowd. They were kind of like beach balls but the rubber is a bit thicker. I know this because I had a couple of them bounce of the back of my head and nearly knock me into the person in front of me. But hey, it's all about the rock and roll experience, right?

But perhaps the strangest moment for me was when John 5 started to play this bluegrass progression. I remember watching Roy Clark play this kind of stuff on Hee-Haw back in the day. Roy would be picking his banjo next to a grinning Buck Owens in front of a haystack. But watching a guy with crazy white hair and face-paint kick out some bluegrass was a bit peculiar. And the weirdest part is that it was awesome! This guy had the technique and chops down pat!

As John 5's performance came to an end, I found myself slightly traumatized but strangely wanting more. In the end, it was one of the best guitar performances that I've ever seen. While it was entertainingly strange, it was also a brilliant display of musicianship. The drummer and bass player formed a tight pocket that allowed John 5's catchy riffs and blistering solos to shine. 

Oh, by the way, Queensryche was excellent as well!

kw

A Tale of Two Women

I have faced a multitude of challenges during my lifetime Some were trivial while others were literally life changing. But perhaps none have had quite the complexity of the challenge the that I'm currently facing. It all began last Christmas when another woman came to live with us. Her name is Alexa...

Alexa was first introduced into our home in the form of a Christmas gift from Ken Jr. She came enclosed in her own apartment which she calls the Amazon Show. At first, I didn't know how to react to all of this. First off, Alexa sounds a bit Russian to me. And I have always been a big fan of Russian women, especially Anna Kournikova. So, I figured why not? It seemed like it might be a good fit. What I didn't figure into the equation was Tina.

Ok, if some of you don't really know what I'm talking about by now, let me explain. An Amazon Show is a small electronic gadget that responds to any questions that you might have. The technical details of how it all works is irrelevant for this story. But the one requirement is that you preface each question with "Alexa....". For instance. "Alexa, what is the weather forecast for today?" Alexa, in her uniquely sexy voice, will then respond with a concise weather report for the day. I personally greet Alexa each morning as I pour my initial cup of coffee (she resides on the kitchen counter). She will greet me back and give me a few random tidbits of information. It's comforting, it's fun and yes, its a little weird. But nonetheless, Alexa is now part of the family.

But all families have their issues...

The other morning, I woke up to a commotion in the kitchen. I could hear Tina yelling at someone. It was 6 am, so I knew we didn't have any guests. So, I made me way down the stairs to see what was going on. With my hair shooting in 25 different angles and my eyes half-open, I asked, "Who were you yelling at?" 

Casually stirring her coffee, Tina totally bypasses my question and blurts out, "Alexa is a bitch!"

"Whoa! Why would you say something like that?", I instinctively ask.

Tina rolls her eyes and explains, "She never gives me a straight answer. And when I ask her the question again, she gives me an attitude!" 

(Now you guys know why I drink.)

"Hold on a minute. Don't you think your being a little unfair?" I ask in an attempt to keep the peace.

"Unfair? How the hell am I being unfair?", she replies.

"Well, you do have a habit of hemming and hawing when you ask a question. Alexa doesn't have time for that bullshit. Why can't you just ask a simple question instead of delivering a monologue?" I ask.

"Oh, so you're taking her side? You have no idea of the way she speaks to me!", she responds.

I scratch my head and try to figure out a way to resolve this. So, I say, "Ok, look, Let's all settle down for a minute. I'm going to demonstrate the proper way to address Alexa."

I then turn my attention to my favorite counter girl and ask, "Alexa, what is the capital of Idaho?"

Alexa immediately responds with the correct answer of Boise.

I follow up with, "Alexa, how many feet are in a mile?'

Right on cue. she answers, "There are five thousand, two hundred and eight feet in a mile."

I turn back to Tina and say, "You see how easy that is? Now, let's see if you can do it."

She walks over to the counter and gets right in Alexa's face. Before she can even say anything, I interrupt her. 

"Whoa! No wonder she has an attitude with you. Why would you get all up in someone's face like that? It's not only rude, it's aggressive!", I explain. "Now, let's try it again in a less belligerent manner."

Tina shoots me a dirty look and then turns back to Alexa. 

"Alexa....how many, uh,.....when did Stevie Nicks...no wait a minute. Alexa, what year did Stevie Nicks enter ......Yes, what year did she go into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?", she asks in an elevated voice.

I just observe in amazement as I try to imagine the confusion inside Alexa's virtual mind.

After a prolonged pause, Alexa finally responds, "Sorry, I can't make out everything you just said. But here is what I found on the Andes mountain range......"

As she shakes her and makes her way out of the kitchen, Tina shouts back, "Alexa, as usual, thanks for nothing!"

So, my friends, here is living proof that two women, no matter the make-up of their DNA or ROM, can not get along in close quarters.

kw

Neil Peart - The Professor

"You can choose from phantom fears

And kindness that can kill.

I will choose a path that's clear,

I will choose free will......."

- Neil Peart

I have always been a music fan, particularly of rock and roll. But as ironic or perhaps even hypocritical as it might be, I was never a huge fan of the drums. Maybe it was because I could never develop the necessary rhythmic timing to actually play the drums. But whatever the case, percussion just wasn't my thing. I grew up with a lot of talented drummers and I always admired their abilities. However, my interest limit on a drum solo was about 30 seconds.

But like with most things, there are exceptions......

The first time I heard Neil Peart play a solo on Rush's first live album ("All The World's A Stage"), he pleasantly exceeded my personal 30-second time limit. As bassist Geddy Lee introduced "The Professor of the Drum Kit", Neil proved to be exactly that. He was clearly a unique and brilliant percussionist. He and his impressive drum kit gradually became one. It was a rhythmical metamorphosis. He actually made me want to pick up a set of sticks and give it go (for the benefit of anyone within earshot, I never did).

If you want to treat yourself to some ear candy, listen to the song "YYZ". It's one of my favorite instrumentals ever. It oozes with energy and showcases the the talents of the whole band. (A bit of trivia.....Toronto is the hometown of Rush. YYZ is the airport code for Toronto's airport).

Aside from Peart's percussive talents, he was also the illustrious penman behind most of Rush's lyrics. I can remember listening to "2112" as youngster. As the title track progressed, I followed along with the lyrics which were printed on the inner sleeve of the album cover. I was intrigued by the story of this distant future civilization who was introduced to music by a nameless man. I remember listening to the entire first side and then, being so fascinated, I played it again. It was my introduction to the "concept album". It still remains my all-time favorite Rush album.

Peart's lyrics, not surprising, also had a rhythmic flow to them. He was gifted storyteller who made you eagerly anticipate the next line. His ability to organize a bunch of random words into something magical was pure genius. The fringe benefit to all of this for me personally was that it made me smarter. Yes, that's right. Any time I came across a word that I didn't know, I would flip open the nearest dictionary and look it up. So, in additional to being the professor of the drum kit, Peart could also be considered to be a professor of diction and vocabulary. In addition to all of the great Rush lyrics, Peart also authored several books.

Although Peart spent the last few decades performing in packed arenas, he ironically wasn't very fond of the spotlight. He usually left the Rush interviews to bassist/singer, Geddy Lee and guitarist, Alex Lifeson. Neil's take on being "cast in his unlikely role" can probably be best summarized in the song "Limelight". 

With Neil's recent passing, a huge void was left in the music world  He left behind countless admirers who were inspired by his prolific catalog of work. The recent outpouring of comments and tributes on social media is a testament to how much Neil Peart meant to music lovers everywhere. His legacy will no doubt carry on....

kw

A Christmas Story 2019

"A toast to my big brother, George. The richest man in town."

Harry Bailey - It's A Wonderful Life


For a child, Christmas Eve is a magical time filled with an overwhelming sense of anticipation. The mystical prospects of the following morning are almost too much to bear. But eventually, the sun comes up and the euphoric journey to the Christmas tree begins.  Overnight, the seeds that were planted under the tree have grown into full blossoms of excitement....

I look back on my childhood Christmas mornings. My parents were far from rich, at least in the monetary sense. But they did their best to put something under the tree that would put a smile on my face. Of course, this was back in the pre-PlayStation age where gifts were a lot cheaper. The most sophisticated electronics game that I ever received was a handheld Mattel football game where the players were represented by a few bright red dashes. Yes, it was primitive by today's standards, but back then it was electronic bliss.

On one particular Christmas morning, I was a bit disappointed to see that some of my gifts seemed to be pre-opened. Upon further inspection, I realized that these were actually second-hand gifts. My Dad used to dabble in flea markets and yard sales, so my assumption was that these items were picked up during his travels. Selfishly, I envisioned all of my friends unwrapping their brand new Christmas presents while I tried to make sense out of my recycled collection. How could my parents give me hand-me-downs for Christmas presents? To be honest, I felt a wee-bit slighted.

But as the day went on, I began to feel guilty. As the dim light bulb in my head began to illuminate, I realized that my parents were doing the best that they could. Whether they ordered my gifts from the beloved Montgomery Ward catalog or picked them up at a yard sale, it didn't really matter. The fact that they made an effort was enough for me. As the evening approached, I remember apologizing to my Mom about the way I felt that morning. But I still carried the guilt for quite some time for ever questioning my parent's love or generosity.

On a side note, I was fortunate enough to go to Cardinal Gibbons High School back in the day. You might question how my parents afforded to send me there. The truth of the matter is that my great-grandmother had always seen something in me that I could never seem to find in myself. And she always had high regards for CGHS. So, it was her wish that I go there. Knowing that my parents could never afford it, she left enough money in her will to cover my tuition. Sadly, she passed away before my freshman year but I will always be grateful for what she did for me. I'm not sure if I will ever meet her high expectations, but I will never stop trying.

Although material things can be fun and exciting, they pale in comparison to the intangible things that unite and inspire us. If there's one thing that I've learned through life, it's that you don't need a lot of money to be rich.

May each of you have a Merry Christmas.....

kw