Coffee, Covid-19, Spock and FIDE

SUNDAY COFFEE

How are you today? It has been a while since my last coffee-blog so now is a good time to get back into it!  The coronavirus has most of us in voluntary isolation, and I don’t need to explain to you how hard this can be.

My wife and I have hardly stepped out of the house for a week, except to do the absolute essentials. We made sure that we had enough provisions for a full month should things get even worse than they are, but this hardly brings any joy. Survival-mode is always minimal.

Portugal has not yet been hit very hard by the coronavirus. Atleast compared to our close neighbour Spain, which is being absolutely ravished by the virus.

 

How is it that Spain is so much worse (so far) than Portugal? Those who look for logical explanations have cited the difference in lifestyles between the Portuguese and Spanish: the Spanish love to party and express themselves more openly than their more reserved cousins.

But I don’t like to try to rationally explain away the crueller fates of others. Sometimes LIFE is just irrational and it all comes down to luck. In any case, nobody deserves the coronavirus.

Starbucks closes down…

Sometimes it takes a shock to make you realize the gravity of the situation. For some it was the cancellation of the NBA season.  Starbucks’ recent decision to virtually close down its operations falls into this category.

There are some exceptions (read here) and some of their grocery stores and drive thrus will remain open (atleast for the time being), but I am still in a state of shock! 

Another Legend leaves us…

Kenny Rogers  RIP

You don’t have to be a fan of country music to know that Kenny Rogers was one of the greatest. Had it not been for the coronavirus, I am certain that every single news outlet would have done a detailed piece on his life and music. Rogers passed away at age 81 this last Friday.

In the photo above we can see  grandmaster Walter Browne strategically placed between Kenny Rogers and Dottie West. The photo was taken in 1980 in Las Vegas.

To be continued…