U.S. Covid-19 Testing Challenges: SOLVED 

#CNN anchor @johnkingcnn reported today that 23 States are on an upward trend of Covid-19.  Everyone says we need more tests. The #trump administration is again promising 150 million new #covid rapid tests that will be deployed “soon.”   But that is just a drop in the bucket when compared to the amount of tests needed.  Further there are three key elements missing from the testing approach to the #coronavirus pandemic which are tests that are accurate, tests that are DIY (so everyone can test) and tests that are affordable.  With tests cost ranging as high as $150.00 per test even the Federal Government would find it challenging to pay for everyone's repeated testing.  The question isn't even can we make a test that solves these three issues because such a test exists but perhaps because it requires a pin prick it is neither preferred nor reported on.   That test is the Healgen COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test.  Unlike the other tests that check whats in your saliva this test checks your blood directly making it a better test.  I've used this test.  It's actually an antibody test that tells you if you have antibodies against covid-19 or not.  It also inadvertently tells you if you have or have had covid-19 within about the last two weeks prior to testing.  I washed my hands instead of using alcohol as alcohol tightens the skin and makes that single prick hurt.  I also pricked the side of my finger as opposed to the front tip to further minimize the slight pain of the prick.  It takes one drop of blood and two drops of serum on a slide tray and I had to wait three minutes for my results which were negative.  It's so simple it should be a national DIY test for covid-19.  The big question is why is it not?  I want to make sure it becomes available to everyone so I joined up with a company called biogen best #biogenbest.com who currently provides the test at affordable rates to Doctors and Dentist offices. But I think it should be available to homes and businesses across the country.  I wrote this article to see if I can garner enough support to get the  Healgen COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test some publicity because I really believe it's the easiest and safest test that can become the first DIY Covid-19 test that everyone can do at home or at work. #healgen4DIY.  This would solve the testing challenges we face today.

A POP STAR's SAGA

Her desire for another hit was so hot that she could feel the heat from 

last summers sunburn itching across her skin and she scratched at her 

arm unconsciously.  She knocked on the door in front of her and the loudness of each knock startled her.  Worried that she might have drawn attention to herself the Pop Star looked up and down the hallway of the run down apartment building and huddled sideways against the door.  “Please answer,” she prayed towards the door, but the answering stillness made her prayer sound in vain.  She glanced again at the gold, diamond encrusted watch on her wrist, and fought the compulsion to knock again.  She knew better than to knock on his door this late at night in the first place, but, it was as if she was a prisoner inside herself, and her jailer was giving her no choice.  Once before she had come here this late at night, and although she had received what she had come for, it had come with a price that had left her nauseated for days.  

She had sworn to herself that it would never happen again.  

She had sworn to herself that she would never be like other people she 

knew who were to weak to keep their integrity and control their desires. 

She made up her mind to leave, and turned to go, but, decided to knock 

just once more for some reason that she could not explain to herself.  

She shivered slightly as she knocked, partly from the cold that seemed 

to permanently reside in the low rent district of “Gotham,” and partly from 

the anticipation of getting another hit.  “God, where is he!” she thought to 

herself.  She believed he was there, because, she had seen his car in 

the poorly lit parking lot.  

She was about to go, or, knock again, she wasn't sure which, when the 

door cracked open an inch and a big angry eye looked down at her.  A 

sleepy deep voice grumbled; “Gurl, ha you lost yo dam mine?

You know whad time id-dis? Do I hat-ta kick yo dam ass ta make you gid 

“not” ta come roun hea-ah at dis time a nighed?”   The Pop Star hung her 

head, and her feet shuffled of their on accord.  Her hand went up to 

brush back her falling waves, and she half whispered half pleaded to 

him.  “I'm sorry Terry, I just need a little bit, and I don;t know where else 

to go to get it.  Please Terry, I'll do anything.”  As she said this last part 

she was horrified by the realization that at that moment she really would 

do anything for another hit, and she hated herself.  Perhaps she would

have run, but, in the time it took her to realize the truth of her, the door 

opened further revealing a massive head and shoulders followed by a 

power train 6'4” frame.  Terry looked down at the young lady who stood 

so desperately at his doorway.  He normally didn't do business at this 

time of night because night business attracted cop business, and he 

wasn't ever planning on going back to jail again.  “Still,” he thought to 

himself, “if ever there was ever a thing to exploit, then, I have never 

passed it up, and she is very exploitable.”  It had occurred to Terry that 

the Pop Star's idea of a “little” bit generally meant at least two hundred 

dollars to him, and at this time of night it would damn sure come with 

fringe benefits.  Studying the depth of her desperation he took in the 

fact that the high fashioned clothes  she wore looked starkly out of place 

in the hallway of  the drabby south side apartment building.  Her 

expensive stiletto heeled boots rose up to just below the knees of her 

lean muscular legs, which, flashed bare flesh all the way up to the very 

short hemline of a Japanese silk mini.  Terry drunk in the sexy sight and 

let his eyes travel up her 5'2” frame.  The mini, already super short 

below, hung low on her waist exposing the slinky curves that fell down 

both sides of the slim woman's well toned abdomen and continued 

down inside the top of her short skirt.  Those curves invited Terry's eyes 

to travel along them, until, they ran into the silky camouflage of the mini, 

behind which, all else was hidden.  

The tiny gold looped ring that hung suspended from her navel caught 

Terry's eye, and teased him with possibilities.  His eyes rose up to the 

sheer gold blouse that stretched tight across her bra-less chest.  Her 

breast, as if two mighty muscles holding ajar an iron door, protruded 

outward against the kelly green silk jacket she wore. The jacket was 

pushed open just enough for Terry to see the thickening erections of her 

Nipples, swollen with the promises of new passions of the night.  Long 

and wavy were the sinuous strands of the finest blonde hair he had ever 

seen, and they surrounded a breathtakingly beautiful, and familiar face.   

No one would ever believe that the suggestively clad beauty at his door 

was a multi-platinum selling artist, and Terry wondered, not for the first 

time, how he had gotten so lucky.  

The Pop Star's pleading eyes starring back at him as his eyes finally 

rose that high brought Terry back to his senses. He smiled knowingly at 

her, and behind his smile she saw the cost that she must pay, if, she 

still wanted her passion.  Almost as if it were a distant dream, a part of 

her felt saddened that she was willing to let him do whatever he wanted 

to do to her just for another hit, but then she thought of the hit, and the 

sadness was drowned out, washed away, by her passion.  

When Terry opened the door all the way she hurriedly bumped past him 

in excited relief, anticipation, and dread.  The sound of her boot heels 

clicking against the tiles of his kitchen floor rang in her ears.  To her, 

each step seemed to click away more and more of her integrity and 

dignity, but, she could not stop stepping and she walked deeper and 

deeper into a new normal way of life for her.

Terry led her into the small living area, and over to his nice but well 

worn sofa, and then, disappeared into the back of the apartment to 

get what she had come for.  Waiting, tensely she perched upon the edge 

of the cushion.   Her mini crawled up her back exposing all of her, but, 

she did not notice.  Hearing him returning she eagerly dug into her 

Gucci bag for money and the glass shooter pipe that she had brought 

with her.  Before she had found the pipe he was back, and the thick lump 

of rock cocaine he rolled from his hand and onto the coffee table in 

front of her caused goose bumps to rise on her bare exposed thighs.  

Finally, her fingers felt the glass pipe inside of her purse, and she pulled 

it out with the money.  As she started to ask him how much he shushed 

her, and then, snapped off a piece almost as big as her thumb nail, and 

held it out to her.  With her hands slightly trembling from excitement she 

took the sweet chunk and placed it into the end of the well used, faintly 

browned, glass shooter pipe.  She needed a light and looked over at 

Terry noticing for the first time that all he was wearing were pale blue 

and white stripped pajama bottoms that did more outlining than hiding 

body parts. She remembered that Terry was huge all over and as he lit 

the end of her pipe she alternated looking at the melting rock cocaine 

and the thickening trunk outlined so well in the pajama bottoms before 

her.  The sweet and over powering taste of high quality cocaine filled 

her mouth, numbing it instantly, and she sucked it in letting it fill her 

lungs and caress through her body.  Everything was okay now.  She felt 

exactly in control.  Her legs parted of their on accord revealing a barely 

there g-string panty, and as passion rushed into her from the hit, the 

surface of panties darkened with moisture.  She leaned back into the 

sofa and let the smoke escape leisurely from her lungs.  And, Terry

slowly slipped his pajama bottoms down....

Gun Soup for the Soul

GUN SOUP FOR THE SOUL

Gun fever is approaching madness with gun enthusiasts fighting to buy any type of weapon the talk radio hosts scares them into buying before the White House strips away their right to possess them. This past December President Obama announced the formation of a task force to come up with proposals that will address gun violence in the wake of the tragic mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, which will be led by Vice President Joe Biden. You can check out the full details in + Tommy Christopher's column for mediaite.com.  Since then there have been a deluge of articles, news reports, and commentary suggesting how the nation as a whole can accomplish the seemingly impossible task of arriving at a consensus that is agreeable to all.

The funny thing is...everyone seems to be suffering from “Congressittis.”  That's where nobody seems to be listening to anybody else.  When I was in Culinary class and there was a disagreement on the prep team as to the order of item prep my Instructor would make us circle round a soup pot and stare into it until we came up with a concensus.  We got quicker and quicker at coming up with a consensus, so, on this gun issue, why not try looking at it all in a soup pot?  If you do you'll soon find that some ingredients (such as a ban on assault weapons) are not really necessary.  Why not?  Because much like a good soup the base stock dictates the overall flavor and is what makes the other ingredients work together.  Take as a base stock in this gun soup the common desire that we all share of no more mass murders.  Now a lot of  people like carrots in their soup while others don't.  But, the deliciousness of the overall soup will make a carrot hater keep ordering it, since, all they're going to do is eat around the carrots anyway.  The same rules can apply with smart gun ownership policies as well.  I suggest the following recipe to fix the gun violence problem we face as a nation and I hope you find it tasty.  The instructions and the reasons for each ingredient follow the recipe.
     
RECIPE FOR GUN SOUP (serve with a side of garnish)

Base Stock:
Public Interest
Homeland Security Department
NSA
State Police

Ingredients:
VA Psychiatrists
Digital Mental Health Exam
Federal Gun Owner ID
Volunteer Veterans

INSTRUCTIONS
The inclusion of the Public Interest bares no explanation.  The reasoning behind the others is that in order to make our soup tasty to all we must make it agreeable to the masses.  To do that our soup must not only be tasty, but, affordable as well.  Affordability falls under cost and cost in this recipe is the garnish, which, is discussed at the end.  Hence we begin with Homeland Security administrating the  program through the NSA on a national level.  The NSA would then localize it by bringing in the State Police who would have the authority to do on-site inspections, as needed, for the ingredients that come next.
Because of the VA Psychiatrist’s experience with people who refuse to shoot other people; people who are not afraid to do their duty on the battle field; and, people who are just too gung-ho trigger happy, they are needed to compile the most comprehensive (and yet abbreviated!) digital mental health exam ever built.  This exam would be used to gauge the person to person violence potential of any applicant for gun ownership, determine the gun safety education level and personal responsibility level of an applicant,  .  The VA Psychiatrist is also needed because no civilian Psychiatrist could afford the insurance that would be required to guard against claims if  someone slips by the test, gets a gun, and goes on a shooting spree.  Now, here's the “carrot” in the soup.  Once an applicant is approved they would need to go to the local DPS office and purchase a Federal Gun Owner (G.O.) ID.  This G.O. ID would have to be renewed every four years and to do so the “GOID” holder would have to pass a continuing education “GOID” renewal exam.  This part is as crucial to implement as salt is to soup.  Take for instance a gun owner who upon achieving a “GOID” and thus, a gun, was at the time living in a gun safe environment.  Meaning there were no mentally challenged in residence.  However, as things sometimes happen, now the “GOID” holder has a mentally challenged person living with them.  Ordinarily, no one would be notified.  However, with a “GOID” would come the responsibility of notifying the State Police of the possible danger that now exists within the situation.  This may seem like a burden, and okay, so it is, but, responsibility breeds burden as yeast raises rolls and to be a gun owner is to be responsible.  Further, I don't know about you, but, if my neighbor invites me to dinner I'd kinda like to know whats on the menu the same as I would like to know that my gun owning neighbor has a mentally challenged person residing with them.  Plus, this “GOID” is itself a mighty protector to the holder in that, first, by complying with it's requirements the holder would be indemnified against lawsuit in most cases.  A second way a “GOID” is a protector is that when a gun is sold person to person it would be incumbent upon the recipient to obtain a “GOID” thereby relieving the holder of any further responsibility other than reporting the sale.   Our final ingredient are the Volunteer Veterans.  Volunteer Veterans are the stabilizers in our soup and as such have a critical role to play.   These volunteers will use their expertise in that often unheralded self control, where, weapons, anger, and temptation meet in the darkest parts of the mind. The veterans would be comprised of retired Military, Police, and other protective Agencies personnel.  The role they play is to be at the end of a phone line established to “talk down” any caller who is feels like they need an outlet before an act of violence.  They would also be available for family, friends, or employers of anyone who seems to be acting out of character, as in, an alarming manner.  They would be the frontline, so to speak, and in them we could rely, for, forever have they demonstrated an unrelenting desire to protect and serve.

GARNISH
The garnish for our gun soup are the funds generated from the cost to the applicant of the exam and the G.O. ID.  While nobody enjoys paying more for something, where, before there were no extra fees, it remains the fact that to be a gun owner in this day and age comes with some form of sacrifice. Therefore let those who would bear arms bare them, but, let them also proudly bear the burdens that come attached, and in so doing, enjoy the soup.

Why Friends Fail During Adversity And How To Prevent It

Nobody ever says good bye any more when they exist your life.  They just stop coming around.  Especailly now, in this economy, when things are rough for you and you're facing a brutal bit of adversity.  Perhaps you lost your job.  Perhaps you're losing your home.  Perhaps you are a struggling self employed person whose sole means of transportation broke down.  Thats an especially bad situation, because, if you are a direct sales person, and your car breaks down you're out of business.  And you know your bills don't know you're out of business, so, they still expect to be paid, or soon you'll lose your home.  So, you begin the humiliating task of calling for a ride, trying to get to that one next appointment where you know you've already made the sale on the phone, and all you basically have to do is collect the money.  And this is money that you need to pay for the car repair so that you can stop calling people.

First, you call your friends who you believe you are the closest to, because, you've done favors for them, they've done favors for you, and so forth..  The usual greetings occur and you feel comfortable telling them what happended.  But, then, before you can get around to asking for their help, they've sensed where you are going and they're off the phone with an excuse of one kind or another.  Wow, thats always like a slap in the face.

Next, you call those you think off as quasi-friends; people you see only every now and then..  These friends are the ones you've helped at some point or other and though you don't talk to them often you feel you have the right to expect some amount of help.  This group of friends know they owe you, but, do they come through?  No, but, at least they stay on the phone long enough to let you ask for their help before they give you the "third-world-shuffle, " where, their excuse for not helping you is because their plight is worse than yours. 

After that, you call the people you know who really are worse off than you, but, who at least have what at best could be called a car.  At this point you're willing to drive around with a stolen car driven by a wanted car thief it will get you to the money.  Of course, for their help you not only have to pay them, which cuts into your repair money, but, you also have to pretend regret for not inviting them to your last party, or for not calling them in a year or two, or for not smoking any of the crack they're smoking as they drive you to your destination, which, is why you never called in the first place.
After all of this you are left to deal with the fact that your friends have failed you.  They did, and the stinging sensation you keep feeling inside is real.  Humiliation without gratification ensures resentment, and you do resent everything you've ever done for them, be it minimal or major.  Even if you let them back into your life long enough to keep you from being lonely until you find new friends, you will remember, and harbor, the hurt. Once you find new friends you are a little wary, because, you never know whose going to need help first, you or them, and whose going to come through the most, you or them.  It gets a bit trying and if you're not careful you can become that person who you see sitting alone at the park every day, -for the last twelve years; distrustful of relationships as a whole.   Still, why do your friends fail you, and how can you prevent it from happening again?  

First, accept that people are flawed.  That makes it easier to forgive and forget.  Sometimes we have trouble prioritizing the issues of our lives, and as so, often miss the opportunities of long lasting relationships due to our own self interests.  Be sure to evaluate your day before you begin each day, and ask yourself if you've left room in your day for emergencies of family and friends.  You can not have that which you do not yourself plan for.  You can not receive that which you do not yourself plan to give.

Next, recognize the state of the economy where you live, and how your friends are responding to it.  This is crucial, for, in economic difficulty those who have gained much in economic stability will soon begin to lose much. Though they may not be in immediate need of your help they willl be less inclined to share what they have with you.  This is true whether you think they have much or not.  It's how they perceive their life in relation to the economic time they live in that determines their generosity, and their perception will effect your life.

One of the most important things to do is to live below your means.  When you call a friend for help, and they've seen you live beyond your means (though they may never say a word to you about it) they will be less inclined to help you.  By living below your means you are less likely to be victimized by a lack of cash, and thus, less likely to have to depend on others.  Even the poorest person you know can live below their means and still be happy in this country.  If possessing HD flat sreens and cable tv define your level of happiness you're going to be sorely disappointed when you die. 

Finally, do what must be done.  If it's to late for the above suggestions, and you're in the midst of friend failure, then, you're going to be humiliated anyway. So, take the plunge and do the following (at least that way you'll get gratification from your humiliation, and feel less sore about rejection);  Pack a big suitcase. In fact, make it the very biggest you have, then, call a cab and have it drop you three blocks from your friends house (if you can afford it, if not skip this step and go to the next).  Walk the distance to your friends house and arrive in seemingly misrable shape.  When they knock on the door swoon a little fiegning mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion (watery eyes work well here, but do not produce tears).  Tell them that you need to move in with them because you're losing your home due to your car being broken and you don't have a ride to your appointment where you have money waiting to pay for the car repair.  It's important that you continously stress that you can't go one more step.  You have to own this to pull it off, but, if you do heres what will happen:  1.) your friend will offer to take you to your appointment (which is what you wanted in the first place.  2.) your friend will let you stay for a few days (free food? yeah, I like it) and,  then, give you a ride just to save their groceries. 3.) if they really can't help you, your friend will call someone to give you a ride just to get your seeming poverty away from them.  Either way your problems solved.  If they turn you away empty handed, then, you know you may have been their friend, but, they were never yours, and go to the next friend and do the same.  Even if they call the next friend ahead of you it really won't matter.  Play it right and the next friend will do even more for you, because theres competition in everything.

Customer Service Tips For Small Businesses In Todays Economy

Maybe it's me, but, it  seems to me that small businesses are becoming less and less congenial.  One of the reasons that I've always chosen a small business over a large corporation, regardless of a cost diffrence that may sometimes exist, is that they were always so neighborly.  But, now,  this economy seems to have turned the formerly appreciative small business owner into an automaton, working, and doing the work, just to get the day over with, so that, they wont have to deal with us, the customer, until tomorrow.  Their indifference to our patronage tends to make us, their customer, feel as if the small business owner is emoting an attitude that they are doing us a huge favor.  There are only a few small businesses in the U.S. that I have come across which could fall into that catagory and they still treat their customers appreciatively. 

I know things are tight for the small business owner, because, things are tight for everyone, and getting tighter by the day.  Yet, when we forget to appreciate the hand that feeds us we'll soon find that hand feeding another, and we'll starve.  One of the best things a small business owner can do to make customers want to return and shop with them is to let go of their business problems or concerns while they're at work.  Sounds strange doen't it?  Still, consider this; if you're a business owner dealing with customers would you tell every customer how your business is going, or about how your spousal or family issues are affecting your mood or business?   No, you would'nt, and yet, thats what many small business owners unknowingly do today.  They bring their business and home issues  to work with them, and by so doing do they slowly strangle their business.  It's easier for a small business owner to blame the economy, when its so crappy anyway, rather then to take a serious look at what they are doing to their own business. 

"Check" Yourself Small Business Owner;
True, you, the business owner, could get away with blaming the economy on declining sales, but, when you look and see that though sales are slow you are still selling the same quality, and others in your industry are still selling strong, you have to look and admit you're doing something very wrong.  Start with how you are treating your customers.  Ask yourself, before you deal with a customer, what you're thinking about at that precise moment.  If its business or family let it go and decide on a specific time later that you will decicde on that issue.   Be sure to make a decision at the appointed time on the given issue and stick with any decision you make.  Then, move on.

Another reason I prefer small businesses is that I want to be able to reach out my hand and touch the local small business when there's a problem.  Nothing like going straight to the top just by walking through the front door.  Maybe I'm the one who should "check" himself.  I doubt it though.

The Master Sportsman