My roommate and I have really been getting on each others nerves lately. So, to keep us busy, we decided to produce a talk show from our apartment with limited resources.

What is inflammation? Inflammation is the way the body responds to protect itself against harm. There are two types of inflammation. The two types are acute and chronic. Acute inflammation occurs when you injure your body. Your immune system dispatches a multitude of white blood cells to surround and protect the area. Chronic inflammation occurs when the body responds to toxins. Long term chronic inflammation can have a negative impact on the body. According to an article from the Mayo Clinic, chronic inflammation can damage your body in a number of ways. It can play a role in the buildup of plaque in your arteries that can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. It is also associated with a higher risk of cancer, diabetes, asthma and other chronic conditions.

The foods you eat can have a positive or negative impact on chronic inflammation. To reduce chronic inflammation. You want to eat foods that are high in antioxidants. A plant based diet can also assist with reducing inflammation. Think of eating vegetables including broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower. For fruit, try colorful items like berries, grapes and cherries. Eat nuts including almonds and walnuts. Try adding spices to your food including turmeric and cinnamon. Go online and search for recipes that incorporate the types of foods you need to reduce inflammation. Eating Well has recipes and additional information for reducing inflammation. http://www.eatingwell.com/article/80991/10-ways-to-reduce-inflammation/

There are foods you want to avoid or reduce your intake of because they are linked to an increased risk of chronic inflammation. First you want to reduce or eliminate your intake of sugar including sugary drinks and desserts. Avoid processed meats like hot dogs, bologna, bacon, smoked meats and sausages. I occasionally treat myself to cake or ice cream. I make it a goal not to frequently eat these items. I may indulge on the weekends.

Most of us know what foods are healthy. Unfortunately, the unhealthy items excite our taste buds. It takes willpower and determination to follow a healthy diet. We need to remind ourselves that the benefits will outweigh any feelings of deprivation we may experience. Be healthy and blessed.

Well, well, well, it seems that the average American is not the only one living check to check. This pandemic is exposing major corporations, entrepreneurs, small business owners, real estate investors and landlords just to name a few. Within in 2 weeks of the pandemic most people were scrambling and looking for financial relief.

Many businesses had to close their doors that are not considered an essential service however, their landlords still want the rent. Cheesecake Factory was bold enough to send their landlord a letter stating they would not be making Aprils rent payment.

So, the same thing that is taught to individuals when it comes to personal finances needs to be shared with landlords and business owners as well. Always have reserves or an emergency fund of at least 6 months that is in a liquid account (checking, savings, money market) that is easily accessible.

The great news is there is a relief for business owners, multi -family property owners and individuals if only a temporary solution, something is better than nothing. A Forbes article posted yesterday suggests Americans should shelter in place until 2022.  Can you imagine? Are most of us financially prepared to shelter in that long? Can businesses stay closed? Hopefully, we will see some return to a new normal within the next 30 days or so.  Until then be sure to do your best to follow sound financial practices.

SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF & GRANTS

Red BackPack Fund
https://www.globalgiving.org/redbackpackfund/
Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund
https://www.lisc.org/…/verizon-small-business-recovery-fund/
The Doonie Fund
https://www.digitalundivided.com/dooniefund
Stimulus Check Links & Updates
https://on.mktw.net/2RCknVD
Benefits
https://twc.texas.gov/ or https://www.dshs.texas.gov/
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)
https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/
Shea Moisture $1 Million Dollar Relief Fund
https://www.sheamoisturefund.com/apply-1
The Alice Fund: Business For All Relief
https://businessforall.helloalice.com/about
Main Vest: The Man Street Initiative
https://mainvest.com/main-street-initiative
James Beard Independent Restaurant Relief Fund
https://www.jamesbeard.org/relief-fund-application
GoFund Me Disaster Relief
https://www.gofundme.com/small-business-relief-fundraisers
The Opportunity Fund
https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/
Kabbage
https://www.kabbage.com/helpsmallbusiness
Google Small Business Grant Relief
https://blog.google/…/commitment-support-small-businesses-a…
SBA Funding Programs
https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance

To even suggest the extermination of the USPS is criminal.  Especially when the threat issues from the lips of a criminal–Donald Trump.

Aside from we oldsters who use the mail to pay bills and receive documents (so many of us either don’t have computers, don’t navigate the internet well or just plain don’t trust exposing their data on the internet), there are hundreds of thousands of veterans like me who rely on the U,S, Mail to get their meds from the Veterans’ Administration.  No veteran –male or female–served this country only to have a draft dodger rob them of their right to get needed medications at a reasonable price.

Between threatening the U.S. mail ( so people of color and old people will be discouraged from voting)and defunding the WHO (to deflect the blame for the mishandling on somebody else) , Trump hasdemonstrated his inanity and insanity.

Early last Tuesday morning, an old friend of mine, a 72-tear old 112-lb. soft-spoken woman named (let’s say) Jane entered her favorite supermarket.  Fussy about her produce and her safety ,  Jane–face-masked and be-gloved– has  lately been  engaged in the  habit of  weekday shopping at 7 a.m. when the customer population is normally sparse.  That morning–with about 7 shoppers coasting through the aisles–was no exception.  After loading her shopping cart Jane tucked into the checkout line about seven feet behind the woman hauling her groceries onto the checkout belt.  Suddenly, behind Jane  emerged a man about the size (and mentality) of Rush Limbaugh, planting himself about two feet from Jane.  In her customary demure manner, she asked this Fox-Fan Fatso to please step back to observe the prescribed  six foot distance rule.  Provoked, Fatso proceeded to rail against her, bleating out menacingly, “You can’t tell me what to do.”  Jane stepped away from the line, dipped her dainty hand in a little daisy-themed purse and mined out a small container of pepper spray, and–pointing it at his jiggling mammoth double chin– suggested that Fatso keep his civilized safe distance or she would deliver some serious discomfort to his face. Muttering through a sheet of mouth drool, he obliged.

Now, I for one cannot advocate this powerful weapon of self-defense; pepper spray is illegal, as is mace.  I wouldn’t even know how to acquire anything like it.  But my take on the incident is:  Jane did Fatso a favor, perhaps a life-saving (his own, his family and any nearby victims)  favor, since he’s unlikely to ever again  nudge up to a stranger, for fear of  damaging, raging counterattack.

I do confess, though, that hearing the recent report of gunfire at a California “Coronavirus party.”  not one droplet of sadness ran a rivulet down my cheek.  I reckoned the shooter was probably an irate head-of-household who had  recently lost a loved one to the dreaded virus and–in his view– was enacting a drama of righteous vengeance.  I’m thinking that there will be far fewer parties of this nature staged very soon.  And more of us will be swathed in a coverlet of well-being, For the time being.

I attended the launch of the 2020 Hyundai Venue in Miami back in January, and I really liked this petite new utility vehicle. It’s right-sized and correctly priced — especially now as unemployment is reaching all-time highs.

Sometimes owning a car isn’t an option, it’s a necessity. So, a lot of people buy used (which I’m totally in favor of BTW), but if you want all the latest safety technology, new is the way to go. 

Now you can get a new car with all the latest standard safety features for less than $20K — less than $19K if you can deal with a manual transmission.

After a week with the Venue in the Chicago, I like it even more. As if that were possible.

The Hits

One of the best things about the Hyundai Venue is its ability to blend into an urban environment. Whether I was trying to parallel park in teeny tiny spots or merge with traffic, Venue had me covered. It’s super easy to maneuver, and with a 99-inch wheelbase, it turns on a dime.

One of the most impressive things to me, however, was how quickly the 121-horsepower engine was able to get up to highway speeds. Sure, you hear the engine whine, but the Venue doesn’t really struggle to fall in line. Every time I entered the Kennedy I was impressed. Passing was also relatively easy.

After the preview, a lot of journalists mentioned while this would be fine for urban driving, you wouldn’t want to take it on a road trip because of its harsher ride and road noise that enters the cabin. So, I went on a road trip to Indianapolis to see if that was true.

None of that bothered me. For an entry-level SUV, it did just fine. It was quiet enough that I could use the hands-free to talk to my parents on the phone, and while I did feel the rough patches on the road more than I would in something larger and more luxurious, it wasn’t awful. It helped that most of my route was fairly smooth pavement.

If a small vehicle like the 2020 Hyundai Venue can fit my water bottle, I firmly state every automaker should figure the same. (Photo by Jill Ciminillo)

I found the seats comfortable enough, though I will admit after three solid hours behind the wheel, I was definitely ready to stand.

The test vehicle was the top-tier Denim model, and I loved the two-tone exterior as well as the kitschy jean-like seating material. It had heated seats and Apple CarPlay (which is standard at the base trim), so I really didn’t need much more than what I had. 

The biggest hit, however, has to be the standard safety features. The base Venue comes equipped with forward collision avoidance assist, lane keep assist and driver attention warning. 

Oh, and for such a small car, I would like to point out the cup holders are just perfect.

The Misses

Frankly, I don’t have much here. 

During the drive program, my drive partner dinged the Hyundai Venue for not having a height adjustable seat belt. She said it was too high, and so the belt cut into her neck. I’m about 4 or 5 inches shorter than she is, and I didn’t notice this problem.

This is the smallest, least expensive SUV in Hyundai’s lineup, so there is road and engine noise entering the cabin. Plus some of the finishings are a bit plasticky. 

2020 Hyundai Venue interior (Photo by Jill Ciminillo)

The Trims

SE ($18,740): Equipped with a manual transmission, 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, forward collision avoidance assistance, lane keep assist, driver attention warning. Adding an automatic transmission adds $1,200.

SEL ($20,370): Adds Drive Mode Select including Snow Mode, dual USB charging ports and automatic climate control. Available Convenience and Premium Packages.

Denim ($23,170): Adds exclusive two-tone exterior, “denim” interior, 17-inch wheels, leatherette combination seats, heated front seats, passive entry and push-button start.

The Chicago Factor

In addition to price, the size of the Hyundai Venue alone makes it an excellent Chicago vehicle. I was able to wedge it into tight parallel parking spaces and fitting in my city garage wasn’t even a question.

While it doesn’t offer all-wheel drive, starting at the middle trim, the Venue offers “Snow Mode,” which in simple terms provides better traction in slippery situations. For a better description, you wan watch this video demonstration with a way better explanation from Hyundai’s Derek Joyce.

At the end of the day, I like the standard safety, I love the design — which many people have remarked looks decidedly Mini-like — and I appreciate how adaptable it is in an urban environment.

For more information, you can read my first-look review on The Median.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue looks a little like a Mini from this angle. (Photo by Jill Ciminillo)

Bet you thought that it’s just an academic question because there’s no draft and women don’t have to register for the Selective Service when they’re 18 like men do.

You got another think coming, because a bi-partisan, government commission has just issued a report that recommends not only that women must register for the draft, but that in times of a “national emergency” women, just like men, would be drafted into the military. And serve in combat if they meet certain requirements.

This once was a topic of heated debate, and the report, Inspired to Serve: The Final Report of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service, issued last month, got not much attention, elbowed out of the way of the public consciousness, as it were, by the pounding and unceasing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

As the title suggests, the report is a thorough examination of civic involvement and how to encourage it, seeing as how it isn’t high on the agenda of many of the younger generation. As the report says:

Taken together, our recommendations offer a revolutionary and inclusive approach to service for Americans, beginning with comprehensive civic education and service learning starting in kindergarten, service-year opportunities so ubiquitous that service becomes a rite of passage for millions of young adults, and new and revitalized service options for adults of any age, background, or experience. We envision a common expectation of service among the American people, so that no one is surprised by the questions “How have you served?” or “How will you serve?”The Commission reaffirms the continued need for a draft contingency mechanism to meet the mobilization needs of DoD during a national emergency. [Emphasis added.]

That alone should provoke a hearty debate, but when it comes to the part about women and the military, it states:

Extend Selective Service registration to women. The Commission concluded that the time is right to extend Selective Service System registration to include men and women, between the ages of 18 and 26. This is a necessary and fair step, making it possible to draw on the talent of a unified Nation in a time of national emergency.

It further explains:

Obama’s draft card

The Commission also proposes extending the obligation of registering for the Selective Service to all Americans, men and women, and reconceiving registration as a solemn occasion that requires reflection on the obligation to serve one’s country if called to do so in a time of national emergency. Reaffirming this common obligation will provide a mechanism to call on the depth of America’s talent in times of crisis.

Seriously? It the words of Joe Biden, “This is a big [effing] deal.” It flies in the face of the cultural shifts that started in the 1970s with the Boomer generation’s disgust of the military and its passionate opposition to the draft. That view became embedded in our culture with the abolition of the draft in 1973.

But draft registration is still on the books–for men. Which once again raises the troubling question for feminists who believe “there is no difference between men and women.” If so, then women certainly certainly should register, be drafted and serve on the front lines–a position I don’t think Americans are ready to accept.

Let the debate begin.

[email protected]

www.dennisbyrne.net 

My historical novel: Madness: The War of 1812

There are a few more events during this self-isolation weekend. We see more to-go and curbside beer releases, and a few food truck appearances with a chance to get beer besides.

It has been a bit of a surprise that so far, I have not heard of any local brewers going out of business because of the COVID-19 shutdown. The Rock Bottom chain has, of course, laid off all its employees and has declared bankruptcy. My suspicion is that we might not know who is hanging on the edge until the self-quarantine is lifted, and some places finally let go. I can hope that we all do what we can to support our local businesses.

Friday, April 17

Saturday, April 18

Sunday, April 19

Earlier this week I rolled out a six-round 2020 NFL Mock Draft. In that mock, I did not reflect any hypothetical trades.

But trades are going to happen. They always do.

I’m not going to dig into the Vikings-OBJ rumor. Sure, the Vikings need to replace Stefon Diggs; but if Minnesota’s smart they’ll see what receivers are there late in the first round.

So here are three trades I could see dramatically shaking up the first three rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft next week.

TRADE 1

• San Francisco gets picks #7 (1st) and 69 (3rd) in 2020
• Carolina gets picks #13 (1st) and 31 (1st) in 2020

The Niners traded DeForest Buckner to Indianapolis for the 13th overall pick in this year’s draft. Carolina, which is turning the entire franchise over with no Luke Keuchly at middle linebacker, Cam Newton at quarterback, Greg Olsen at tight end or Ron Rivera as head coach move down six spots and add another pick at the end of the first round to replenish their roster.

• At 7, San Francisco takes Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn.
• At 13, Carolina selects Jordan Love, QB, Utah State.
• At 31, Carolina selects Patrick Queen, ILB, LSU.
• At 69, San Francisco selects Devin Duvernay, WR, Texas.

TRADE 2

• Atlanta gets pick #8
• Arizona gets picks #16 (1st), 78 (3rd) and 119 (4th)

This won’t be the first time the Falcons mortgage the farm to move up to get a wide receiver from Alabama. They traded their first, second and fourth round picks in 2011 and their first and fourth round picks in 2012 to move up six spots and select Julio Jones in 2011. Arizona moves down eight spots and adds picks in the middle round to bolster their depth.

• At 8, Atlanta selects Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama.
• At 16, Arizona selects CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma.
• At 78, Arizona selects Lloyd Cushenberry III, iOL, LSU.
• At 119, Arizona selects Shyheim Carter, DB, Alabama.

TRADE 3

• Dallas gets picks #12 (1st) and 91 (3rd) + a future 4th round pick
• Las Vegas gets picks #17 (1st), 51 (2nd) + a future 4th round pick

Dallas desperately wants an edge rusher and is going to commit a whole lotta money to Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper. Losing a second round pick this year helps them financially and they can move in front of a couple other teams that might be targeting an EDGE they like. Vegas doesn’t have a pick in the second round so adding on here to move back five slots makes sense for them.

• At 12, Dallas selects K’Lavon Chaisson, OLB, LSU.
• At 17, Las Vegas selects Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama.
• At 51, Las Vegas selects Ashtyn Davis, S, California.