Daily Inflammation

OR…You could be a “Glass is Full” with room to spare guy like me!
New Year coming, new beginning, new resolutions to fulfill, new opportunity to make that budget and stick to it.  Time to get out of debt, start saving, train for a marathon…better yet, a 10K run; resolve to take that class, read a book, volunteer at the center and be a better person.

And then the Monday after next Christmas you will have experience in countering your depression for having accomplished nothing just like you did this year. 
I’m just kidding, you know, the way you do when you really mean it but don’t want to seem like a dick? 

Boxing Day is set aside for the celebration of the Pugilistic Arts. It is the one day a year you are allowed or rather encouraged to fight, maim and destroy without fear of retribution by the law so get going, start destroying!  What’s that?  Oh, my mistake.  That day is called “The Purge” and I have to check but I think it may be the last Thursday in November.

So what is Boxing Day?
Boxing Day got its name when Queen Victoria was on the throne in the 1800s and has nothing to do with the sport of boxing. The name comes from a time when the rich used to box up gifts to give to the poor.  It is primarily celebrated in the U.K., Canada and a few assorted places around the globe.  A bill was introduced to recognize a “day of charity” in the United States but was quickly rejected as another plot for the radical left socialists to undermine democracy by getting food and warm clothing into the hands of the less fortunate; an act inevitably leading to the loss of the right to carry assault weapons across state lines and kill. 

It is more popular locally as the day for “boxing up” the useless gifts you received and returning them for cash. 

 

Linda and I completed our annual viewing of the film “A Christmas Carol.”  Our version of choice is the 1951 production starring Alistair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge. But this year we gave the George C. Scott version a try and enjoyed it as well. Paired with “The Man Who Invented Christmas” a film about Charles Dickens and the creation of the eternal tale made for a warm and wonderful Christmas Eve that can be celebrated by everyone regardless of religious affiliation.  In the warm glow of that evening and as the spirit of brotherly love for all mankind that envelopes us once a year, I open my heart and mind to all and say “Merry Christmas!”

And, to assure you that I have not fallen victim to sugary platitudes and rank sentimentalism, I sign off with a resounding “BAH HUMBUG!”

Little Know Fact: 
In 47 countries around the world the night before Christmas is known as “Christmas Eve.”  It is believe this tradition was started long ago in The Garden of Eden when Eve decided to dress up and donned a fig leaf.  Adam, finding the fig leaf quite attractive called this version of his eternal soulmate “Christmas Eve” to differentiate her from the other Eve that goes around in her birthday suit.  As the world populated and grew beyond the Garden, and adding new holidays became all the rage when ye olde retailers discovered that frequent holidays meant increased business, the day before any holiday became known as that holiday’s eve.  It is unclear at what point the tradition of wearing nothing but a fig faded everywhere except at “Plato’s Retreat’ bathhouse on the lower east side of Manhattan where even the fig leaf is optional.

And for those of you enjoying a less traditional Christmas Eve, fully clothed and surrounded by friends and family, “Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!”

We live busy lives, it has been a crazy two years, you don’t have that gift for the one remote person you really wanted to show how you feel.  What can you do?
I want you to know I accept cash and will not think any less of you for it.  Secretly, many of us “Influencers” are really into it.

Christmas is almost here! “Don’t Worry, Be Happy!” 

It is as true today as it was 11 months ago when Dr. Nello Penello of Walnut Creek wrote it in his Journal; the one he keeps in his sock drawer.  “Right on, Dr. P!  That’s the problem with the unvaccinated; they simply don’t understand vaccinations, probably because it’s something new and nobody ever heard of vaccines before this virus.  So I will replace anti-vaxxer fear and ignorance with information. It appears the confusion is caused by a lack of understanding of one treatment option, Monoclonal Antibodies.

So let’s clear it up.  Monoclonal antibodies are among the most promising treatments the disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.  When monoclonal antibodies attach to the spike protein, they can block the virus’s ability to enter cells.  The FDA has authorized several different monoclonal antibodies to treat COVID-19.  Two monoclonal antibody infusion treatment products are Sotrovimab and the other is a combination of the drugs casirivimab and imdevimab.

Hope that clears it up for you.  Go get vaccinated!

But you don’t have to wait until December 21st to live in darkness.  Here are a few other ways to eradicate the light and create eternal night regardless of the date:

• Watch a “Keeping up with the Kardashians” marathon.
• Read every political post on Facebook until you find one that actually changes your mind or enlightens you in any way.
• Invite Uncle Saul and Aunt Bea to bring over their vacation photos from the all-inclusive resort in Cancun.
• Make an appointment with a time-share salesperson.
• In a hurry?  Just turn on Fox News.

Congratulations John!  He lost over 100 lbs. using a seldom tried method.  He didn’t spend a fortune on pills or potions; by expensive exercise equipment or read one of the 100 books out every year on the “Smart” way to lose weight.  I hope he does not sue me for releasing his secret for free but here goes:   He paid attention to portion control so as not to overeat and increased his walking, striving for 10,000 steps a day.

Sounds like a lot of work to me. 

     This 1988 Quote from Isaac Asimov could have been said yesterday.  In fact it was.  I said it when referring to the tens of thousands of frightened, senseless, short-sighted, witless and ill-advised boneheads who refuse to get vaccinated, wear a mask or add nothing to the effort to eradicate this virus.
    To dear friends who recognize their behavior in these words please know that I do respect your opinion in many things except the above behavior and all my snarky comments apply to you as well.  You should know better!

I have not spent a lot of time recommending books in The Daily Inflammation (See Best Books Ever).  But as we watch our republic being destroyed by deranged politicians with a constituency fueled by fear and ignorance it might help to get lost in a book on occasion.  This view is of a time in the very near future, perhaps tomorrow, where hope and friendship can be found in artificial intelligence. 

At least, that’s what I think it was about.  Might just be a robot story lamenting the demise of Radio Shack retail outlets.  It’s open to interpretation.