QUARANTINE BLOG # 84

June 22, 2020

Cruise Lines International Association which represents 95% of the world’s ocean going cruise ships, says its member cruise lines have voluntarily extended the suspension of U.S. cruise operations until Sept. 15 amid coronavirus concerns.

“Although we had hoped that cruise activity in the U.S. could resume as soon as possible after that date, it is increasingly clear that more time will be needed to resolve barriers to resumption in the United States,” Bari Golin-Blaugrund, senior director for strategic communications told USAToday, noting the organization informed the CDC of its continued voluntary suspension.

Your favorite bloggers were scheduled to sail on the Carnival Fantasy on September 14, but a check of the Carnival website shows no sailings until October.  Stay tuned for more news.

👉  In our “Things That Really Don’t Matter All That Much Department” Major League Baseball and the Players Association (MLBPA) have been negotiating for almost six weeks about a return-to-play plan for the 2020 season.  Yesterday the players declined to vote on accepting the league’s offer of a 60-game season.  I think that the chances of any major league sport being played in 2020 are “Slim” and “None,” and Slim has already left town.  But just so there is a little baseball, I offer the following cartoon:

👉  We haven’t dropped a nickle into the nickelodeon in a few days, so let’s spin a record.

Lionel Brockman Richie Jr’s singing career began in 1968 with the Commodores.  The group met when they were freshmen at Tuskegee Institute.  They signed a contract with Motown in 1972.  Ten years later, Richie left to follow his solo career.  All Night Long was a major hit from his second solo album, reaching #1 on three Billboard charts.  The song’s Caribbean influence featured “African” lyrics, such as “Tom bo li de say de moi ya” and “Jambo jumbo,” that Richie later said were his own made-up gibberish.  Enjoy his music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqAvFx3NxUM

Richie’s first production work outside of the Commodores was Lady, a song he pitched to the Commodores, but they turned it down.  The year was 1980.  He then gave the song to Kenny Rogers and it became Rogers’ biggest single solo hit.  It is listed as Billboards # 60 All Time Top 100.  Here is Kenny Rogers (after his unfortunate facelift) singing with Lionel Richie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI2CvL6UYvE

👉  Pet Sitters International advertises that today is National Take Your Cat To Work Day.  And they give some advice so you and your kitty will have a great day.  Decide if this is right for your cat.  Keep your kitty comfortable – don’t forget your kitty’s comforts of home.  Avoid forcing co-workers to interact with your cat.  Have an exit strategy in place in case your cat shows signs of stress or decides she’s not interested in “working like a dog.”

👉  I apologize for missing International T-Shirt Day yesterday.  My head is hung, especially since in retirement, about all I wear for top covering are t-shirts.  This versatile clothing staple that is the center of this holiday first came into popularity in 1904.  It began with a magazine ad from the Cooper Underwear Company, showing a man looking sloppy in a traditional undershirt with buttons, and a second man looking suave in the newly invented “Bachelor Shirt.”

The t-shirt’s first appearance in the movies was 1951's “A Streetcar Named Desire” starring Marlon Brando.  T-shirt sales went to $180 million that year.  Another t-shirt hero is James Dean who portrayed teenage disillusionment.  Do you have to smoke to be a t-shirt hero?

👉  The number of cases of coronavirus is surging globally, driven by outbreaks in Latin America, Africa, South Asia and the United States.  More than 140,000 cases were reported on Tuesday and another 166,000 on Wednesday, two of the three highest tallies since the outbreak began.  Seventy-seven nations have seen a growth in new cases over the past two weeks, while only 43 have seen declines.  On Thursday, California and Florida reported their highest daily totals of new cases yet.  Texas became the sixth state in the nation to surpass 100,000 cases.  It took Africa nearly 100 days to reach 100,000 cases, but only 19 days to double that tally.  Some countries where caseloads had appeared to taper – including Israel, Sweden and Costa Rica – are now watching them rise again.  More risks lie ahead as nations begin to reopen their economies.

👉  If things weren’t bad enough, the small town of Verkhoyansk in Siberia reached 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, 32 degrees above the normal high temperature.  The reading hasn’t been verified, but if it holds, it would surpass the previous record for high temperature above the Arctic Circle previously held by Fort Yukon, Alaska at 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit, recorded in 1915.  For perspective, the highest recorded temperature in Fort Lauderdale was 100.0 on August 4, 1944.  Verkhoyansk is typically one of the coldest spots on Earth.  This past November, the area reached nearly 60 degrees Fahrenheit below zero – cold enough to freeze automobile tires so that they will crack and shatter – which is certainly more characteristic of eastern Siberia.

👉  Let’s crank up the Way Back Machine for a look at another spy TV series.  This one could actually be called a spy series, or a western, or a science fiction show: The Wild Wild West.  At a time when westerns on TV were losing out to spies, Michael Garrison created a “James Bond on horseback.”

Set during the administration of President Ulysses Grant, the series followed Secret Service agents James West (Robert Conrad) and Artemus Gordon (Ross Martin) as they solved crimes, protected the President, and foiled the plans of megalomaniacal villains to take over part or all of the United States.

The show’s most memorable recurring arch-villain was Dr. Miguelito  Loveless, a brilliant but petulant and megalomaniacal dwarf portrayed by Michael Dunn, and his side-henchman, Voltaire, played by Richard Kiel (who would later appear as “Jaws” in two James Bond films).

“The Night of the Inferno” was the premier episode – and in a pattern similar to The Man From U.N.C.L.E whose episodes were all “Affairs” – WWW episodes were all “Nights.”  Watch Jim West suit up for action for “Inferno” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXCaFoXwrwo

We will return to The Wild Wild West tomorrow.

👉  “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and shield” (Psalm 33:22 NRSV). 

We are wearing masks – some of us – and practicing social distancing – same caveat – but beyond this, we need a good defense system.  In our new normal of COVID-19, medical practices and procedures are on the front line.  Other protections are our nation’s strength: economic and military.  Important though these definitely are, our greatest source of strength, our strongest protection is God, “our help and shield.”

Pray with me: Defend me, Almighty God, as I learn to trust in your care.  Help me to find gladness of heart and peace of mind safe in your loving arms.  Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon me, even as I hope in You.  Amen.

-30-