h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've been on a most effective appetite suppressant for the last 15 days, losing approximately 20 lbs.

I submitted a stool sample yesterday to determine exactly which bug hitched a ride on some "fresh" scallops from Kroger's to suppress my appetite in such way.

Friend of mine went though something similar years back after a visit to Sudan. - Very effective, he said dryly

Losing twenty pounds is no disaster if you weighed a bit extra to begin with. Not that it would be fun.

Yeah... a "bit" extra.

That 20 lbs won't be missed and will not be welcome returning.

I'm hoping this "shrinks" my stomach and changes my eating habits, reducing my typical portions.

As foretold I went on a bicycle trip with two friends. 52 km (32.3 miles). It was as expected and not as hard as feared. And the weather was almost perfect (I'll give it 98 out of 100)

The main reason for this trip was a restaurant that has specialized in smoked food. Fish in particular. But also smoked whipped cream for dessert (rhubarb trifle). I swear by this

I skipped that dessert because aforementioned overweight of course so can't tell you much about it, but the rest was splendid: Shrimps, salmon, a rather special tuna salad, pork sirloin and two (Havarti and Brie).

We shared some water and a bottle of Austrian Rosé. Supposed to be the dryest in the house but not quite dry enough for me. My friends loved it though.

Dry wine sounds as if it would be hard to drink. Or are You supposed to add water to it?

Some do, but more drink a glass of water alongside a glass of wine. Most just drink the wine.

Dry as opposed to sweet because dry is more accurate than sour. Unless your wine is sour. In which case you complain.

I didn't know wine was supposed to be accurate.


But then, as the Romans said, "In vino veritas." (In wine there is truth)

Xactly!

So you are part of the wine plot?

Maybe? A little?

Go for it!

Another advantage: Practically no flu here last season. Physical distance, hand washing and the like could be here to stay

I can't remember if that was also true here.

The way things are going I'm afraid the US still have a long way to go before this is over

Take care of yourself, keep physical distance to others and wash your hands regularly

I wash dishes several times a day. My hands get clean in the process.

The US is doing so poorly because of politics, propaganda, willful ignorance, tribalism, and general idiocy.

I truly believe we wouldn't need to shut down businesses again if people would have just agreed en masse to wear their damn face masks. But no. the conspiracy cult of Trumpism has decided wearing face masks is
1) unnecessary ("This is just like the flu."; "Unless you're wearing a fit-checked N95 respirator it ain't gonna stop the virus."; "I'm healthy, I don't need it."
2) A sign you're "living in fear created by the librul main stream media and George Soros!
3) A sign of sadomasochistic bondage fetishists.
4) Deadly! (Apparently these face masks are the equivalent of plastic bags suffocating folks who wear them.)
5) A power grab by democrats to take away our freedom!"

No matter what excuse they claim, one thing is always the same, it's always about themselves, it's selfish. They never, ever consider that they may help prevent the spread to others.

I dislike wearing face masks because they make me feel as if I'm stifling. Fortunately, I can tolerate this for the short time I'm in a store. When I'm outside, and there aren't any people around, I don't feel the need to wear the mask.

So far only health workers have used face masks, shields and the like here. But our authorities seem to be warming up to the idea of forcing people to wear face masks in super markets, trains, busses and other crowded places. Up till now they have not been convinced that masks are efficient enough and they are afraid masks might give people a sense of false security