QUARANTINE BLOG # 109

July 17, 2020

More than 584,000 of us worldwide are dead because of the coronavirus.  Over 13.5 million people across the globe have been diagnosed with COVID-19. The actual numbers are believed to be much higher due to testing shortages, many unreported cases, and suspicions that some governments are hiding or downplaying the scope of their nations’ outbreaks.  The United States has become the worst-affected country, with more than 3,533,905 diagnosed cases and at least 138,358 of us have died.

In the face of that, Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp – incomprehensibly – issued an executive order Wednesday night, which banned cities and counties in the state from issuing mask orders to help stop the spread of COVID-19.  The move voided mask mandates in 15 local jurisdictions in the Peach State where they had been implemented.

At the same time he outlaws mask mandates, Kemp “strongly” encourages all residents and visitors in Georgia to “wear face coverings as practicable while outside their homes or place of residence, except when eating, drinking or exercising outdoors.”

Editorial comment: if Governor Kemp would walk around anywhere in the state – grocery stores, drug stores, wherever – he would see a low percentage of Georgians wearing masks, at least here in Augusta.  He can strongly urge all he wants, but until there is some teeth put behind it – mandatory fines at least – nothing will change, and the coronavirus will continue its attack on us.

And in case the governor missed it, Georgia has a test-positivity rate greater than 10%, with record numbers of new cases in rural, urban and suburban areas alike, and more than 127,838 diagnosed cases of coronavirus, with at least 3,091 of us dead from COVID-19.  Not to mandate wearing masks is outrageously irresponsible.

👉  Nationwide use of face masks could significantly slow the spread of COVID-19 and end the epidemic in four to six weeks, Dr. Robert Redfield, Director of the Centers for Disease Control, said Monday. https://people.com/health/americans-wore-masks-drive-this-epidemic-to-the-ground-says-cdc-director/ “If all of us would put on a face covering now for the next four weeks, six weeks, we could drive this epidemic to the ground,” he said.  Studies have confirmed that by wearing masks, the risk of virus transmission goes down by 85 percent.

👉  Rick Kirkman’s and Jerry Scott’s wives worked together as nursing assistants for a doctor.  One day they were having lunch and Rick’s wife said, “You know, my stupid husband thinks he wants to be a cartoonist.”  And Jerry’s wife said, “Hey!  My stupid husband thinks he wants to be a cartoonist.  We should introduce them.”  So Rick and Jerry started Baby Blues.  In the beginning Jerry didn’t have any kids, so the stories were based on Rick’s family (Rick claims that they have proof that their second daughter is an alien).  Rick says, “I am constantly exploiting my family for profit.”

It took several years for Baby Blues to take shape.  They sent it to all the major comic syndicates and it was sent back very quickly.  The syndicates said, “Maybe you should try it as a panel.”  So they did, and the syndicates replied, “It’s fine as a panel, but you really should try it as a strip.”  They redid it as a strip and sent it again to all the major syndicates as a last ditch effort.  They got rejections from what they thought was everyone and just put it away.  And then they got a call from the Vice President of Creator Syndicate who said, “We like Baby Blues.  We’d like to syndicate it.”  They had forgotten they still had a package out.

Baby Blues appeared on January 7, 1990.  The first strip featured Wanda and Darryl in the hospital with the birth of Zoe.  Over the years the family has grown with the additions of Hammie and Wren.  The children age about one year for every three years the strip is produced.

The date on the above comic shows 1989 (it was published early the next year).  I’m not sure of the date in the horizontal section on the following strip, but it seems to be a trip back in time.  Regardless, enjoy.

Originally Zoe’s middle name was Chloe Wade, but a strip dated April 9, 2007, showed her middle name changed to Madison.

A panel from April 5, 2000, shows Zoe and Hammie receiving Teddy Bears.  Hammie’s truck’s name reveals a lot about the little boy.

Wren arrived in the MacPhearson family on October 26, 2002.  Wanda explained that she thought of her name when a bird collided with a window during breakfast time in the hospital.

One of the things Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott do best is capture every day family life.  As parents and/or grandparents know, it rings true to life.  Consider the following strip that captures 233 Woodland Drive, at least one room in the house.

See what I mean?

                                                         😁😁😁


👉  “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12 New King James Version).

This is the last of the beatitudes.  Until now Jesus has been describing the Christlike character.  In this last beatitude He tells us the reception that this genuine Christian is to meet at the hands of the world.  And what He says tends to fill us with amazement.  One would certainly think that a character such as Jesus has described would meet with universal acclaim; that every one’s heart would be open to the believer.   But such, says Jesus, is not the case. On the contrary, the vital Christian is sure to meet with some form of opposition or persecution.

Before we try to understand the link between “happy” and “persecuted,” we should note the honest realism: Christ warns that his followers will be maligned and stricken.  As far as we know, only one of the Apostles – John – died in his bed.  Some of them were crucified.

Our time is no exception.  The Beatitudes invite persecution in a world in which the devil never lacks for followers.  But the persecuted should “leap for joy” because they now belong to that “cloud of witnesses” who watch and cheer our earthly course.  The persecuted have a great reason for sheer gladness – “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

In a contest to decide who are the happiest people the prevailing answers were these: a surgeon performing a crucial operation with success, a craftsman busy at his task, a mother crooning over her baby.  The best answer, but the one not chosen, is this: Christ facing his cross in joy and promising joy to us.

Persecution of Christians in 21st century America does not feature lions and fire and jail.  Oh no!  But it does feature marginalization and ridicule and the call to compromise.  The world says your faith does not matter and the courts back up that decision.  One of the greatest preachers of the last 50 years said the day was coming when Christianity in America would be outlawed.

We get closer and closer that day every time a Christian business woman or business man stands for biblical principles and the courts say what you believe does not matter, evil must be accepted – but of course it is never called “evil.”  Jesus said, “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

-30-