A C. T U. A L. L Y

Hey, everybody, it’s New Year’s Eve, known as Silvester in Germany!!!   So how should we send off 2020, annus horribilus ?   Before we kick its ass out the door, let’s get some perspective.   I know you think 2020 was the Worst Year Ever, but you would be wrong.   According to Medium , historians agree that 536 AD was actually the Worst Year Ever: The year began with an inexplicable, dense fog that stretched across the world which plunged Europe, the Middle East and parts of Asia into darkness 24 hours a day, for nearly 2 years. Consequently, global temperatures plummeted which resulted in the coldest decade in over 2,000 years. Famine was rampant and crops failed all across Europe, Africa and Asia. Unfortunately, 536 AD seemed to only be a prelude to further misery. This period of extreme cold and starvation caused economic disaster in Europe and in 541 A.D. an outbreak of bubonic plague further led to the death of nearly 100 million people and almo...

‘Tis the season to be jolly, right?   Are you feeling it?   Me neither.   So here’s a dark take on Christmas carols, which of course we won’t be singing this year because singing loudly means we’re not wearing our masks and so are transmitting an aerosolized form of the virus, even if we’re outside and singing six feet away from our fellow carolers, but…whatever.   Maybe it’s best to just read these and sing softly to ourselves.  All tuned up and ready to go?   THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS 1 st published in 1780 - author unknown    On the first day of Christmas,   My true love sent to me  A virus in bat feces.    On the second day of Christmas, My true love sent to me  Two pangolins, and  A virus in bat feces.    On the third day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Three cloth masks, Two pangolins, And a virus in bat feces.     On the fourt...