Lucky you. Just when you were at the end of your rope and about to do something insane, I have written a post to occupy your time.

Let me begin by making something very clear. I have always tried as much as possible to make my posts apolitical.

So, I am going to make a statement, which will then lead me to the heart of today’s story, but it is intended simply as an example.

Why do so many people give a flying fuck about what Trump says about the science surrounding Covid-19?

Yes, he is the president. So what?

And, so I’m not accused of just picking on him, this also goes for actor, sports figures, royalty, etc.

Stay in your lane, people!

He is a lay person and should not be considered an expert on infectious disease in any sense of the word.

OK, now here is my actual point.

When it comes to learning about science or medicine, please refer to reputable doctors or scientists.

Makes sense, right?

Yet, stop and think about the anti-vaxxers. They are not doctors or scientists, for the most part, and if they are, they are not reputable.

However, until we had huge outbreaks of measles, a completely preventable illness, I might add, we went so far as to give parents waivers, so that their children wouldn’t have to be vaccinated.

Because, you know, freedom.

Now, let’s talk a little more about the current scenario.

Many have pointed out, and I include myself in this group, that the flu generally has far more total impact than Covid-19, yet, we don’t go into lockdown every flu season.

As time has gone on, I realize now that there are differences with Covid-19 that makes the comparison invalid.

Yes, I am admitting I was proven wrong, which is pretty amazing, if you ask me.

For the flu, there is a vaccine, which, even when it’s not a “good” one, still produces immunity and lessens the severity of the disease.

Also, because of the flu vaccine, the spread is not as rampant due to the “herd immunity” effect.

Finally, of those that get severely ill and die, they fall into well defined groups, the very young and very old, or those with comorbid conditions.

In contrast, Covid-19 is extremely contagious, there is no herd immunity yet and it appears to not only kill the old, or those with co-morbid conditions, but also young, healthy people.

Not as many, granted, but enough to raise concerns.

The reason for the quarantine, which I am no more happy about than you are, is simply because the disease had completely overwhelmed our medical facilities.

I am unclear how people don’t realize that.

Yes, when we are allowed to venture out again, there may well be a second wave, but the hope is it will be much smaller, so that doctors, nurses and hospitals are able to handle this surge.

That’s it. That is the reason we are doing what we are doing, because in the end, it will save lives.

It sucks, I grant you, but it is necessary.

One final side note.

The outpouring of support for medical personnel is heart warming.

But, how long after this crisis is over will we once again hear about that “stupid doctor” or “sadistic nurse”?

I would really hope that people come to a better understanding now about the price those in medicine pay to do their jobs and maybe, just maybe, come away with a little more respect for them.

I don’t expect it from everyone, but if it changes even a few people’s opinion about the medical profession, maybe this pandemic will have at least a small silver lining.

And, for the love of God, if a non physician or scientist tries to share their “theory” about Covid-19, or anything medically related, for that matter-STAY SKEPTICAL!

Please like, share and comment and above all, stay safe!

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Life is like a crossword puzzle,

With all the blanks to fill

And solving it depends upon

One’s intellect and will.

It’s easy, medium, or hard

That choice is left to fate.

However long or short the grid

However clear the clues,

However close we come to solve,

It’s ours to win or lose.

Remember the words of Dr King, “ALL LABOR HAS DIGNITY.”  While most of us are resting at home and maybe complaining about boredom THINK HARD.  Where would we be without those nurses, doctors, cops, fireman, truck drivers, store clerks, delivery people, cleaning people, nursing home workers, food suppliers and food processing workers, and many many more, that in the past we may have barely noticed. or even thought about.

Ask yourself next time that sanitation worker comes by to collect your garbage — where would we be if they didn’t show up? Knee deep in our own garbage, that’s where. A  lesson I learned a few year back when the New York Sanitation workers went out on strike, or  a few years before that when the Transit workers struck New York. I have honestly never look at those people the same way again. We have to ask ourselves where the hell would our lives be without them? Dr Kings PROPHETIC WORDS “ALL LABOR HAS DIGNITY” has shown that we all have a face. no matter our calling in life, it takes all of us to survive. Those mostly  invisible men and women have proven him right.

From this day forward let’s look each other straight on, right in the eyes, NOT down. These folks are risking and giving their lives.We owe them to never forget.

They didn’t go off to a far away land to serve us and our country. They stayed among us and served, and are fighting an unseen and indiscriminate killer, and yet they are on the job, while most of us  are staying out of harms way because of them.

Remember this quote, “I SLEPT AND DREAMED THAT LIFE WAS BEAUTY, I WOKE AND FOUND THAT LIFE WAS DUTY.”  God bless all  of you who before this awakening, probably went unnoticed. A GRATEFUL NATION HAS TURNED IT’S EYES ON YOU. Eyes that will never forget.

Prior to this weekend’s NFL Draft, veteran Illinois State head coach Brock Spack remained confident that James Robinson will make an NFL roster — whether the Redbirds’ star running back was selected in the seven-round event or went the undrafted free agent route.

Robinson’s name was not called in this year’s three-day draft, meaning that he was free to sign with any of the NFL’s 32 teams. Scott Leber, Rockford WTWO-ABC & Fox 39 sports director, reported that Robinson would sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars. ISU Assistant AD/Communications Mike Williams later confirmed Leber’s report.

“He’s a very explosive player. He’s extremely tough, got very good ball skills. He’s a very good athlete. He’s quicker and more deceptive than he is fast. He’s fast enough,” Spack told Prairie State Pigskin earlier this week.

Speed may have been a deterrent for Robinson, who ran a unofficial 4.64 timing in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in February.

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein wrote: “Reliable runner with good feel for run-lane development but just average burst. Robinson’s feet, finesse and vision allow to probe from gap to gap against conference competition, but tighter NFL running lanes mean he’ll need to be more physical and more urgent to succeed between the tackles. The college production is unlikely to translate into the pros, but he’s well-rounded enough to compete for a back-end roster spot if he runs to his size and can play on special teams.”

Robinson, like Spack a Rockford native, saw his pro day cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he did play in the East-West Shrine Bowl as well as participating in the aforementioned Combine.

High praise

Spack is beginning his 12th season as Illinois State head coach. Prior to that, the former Purdue linebacker coached defensive backs at his alma mater 1991 to 1994. After serving as Joe Tiller’s defensive coordinator at Wyoming for two seasons, Spack returned to West Lafayette when Tiller was hired as Purdue’s head coach. Spack was Purdue’s defensive coordinator from 1997 to 2008. In Robinson, Spack sees glimpses of his Boilermaker past.

James Robinson

“James is built like a big-time back,” Spack said. “He reminds me a lot, but is a different player than a guy I recruited at Purdue a long time ago, Mike Alstott. He’s very similar to Mike, who was a tailback at Joliet Catholic and a fullback in college. I’m not saying that James is a fullback by all means, but however fast those two guys are, they get up to that speed very, very quickly. They can stop on a dime and change direction.”

According to nflcombineresults.com, Alstott ran a 4.68 time in the 40-yard dash in 1996. Though much has changed with the Combine in 24 years, comparing the two athletes’ performances, Robinson outperformed Alstott in vertical leap (40 inches to 33) and broad jump (125 inches to 117). Alstott ran a faster 20-yard shuttle (4.16 compared to 4.19). Both players did 24 reps in the bench press.

“Mike obviously was a bigger guy, he was almost 255 pounds when he played in the NFL, but James in 220 and 5-9, 5-10 maybe,” Spack said. “James is put together. He’s a load to tackle, especially when he gets in space. I think he’s going to be a very good special teams player. He can run and cover. He can hit. He’s a very good pass protector on offense. He’s big enough to do that stuff. He catches well. He catches punts and kickoffs if he has to do that. I think he has a lot of value to a team. I see him making it; I do.”

FCS draft numbers down

Sixteen running backs were taken in this year’s draft. Seven of those running back picks came after the third round. Six FCS players were picked, including Southern Illinois safety Jeremy Chinn who was the 64th overall pick. Thirteen FCS players got picked in last year’s draft.

Josh Buchanan, Phil Steele Magazine contributor and DraftScout.com scout, tweeted as the draft closed Saturday, “9 small schoolers drafted. I thought 12-14 would go and single digits or close to it would come next year for sure. 3 shocking snubs for me is PSU TE Taumoepeau, Ill St RB Robinson, SC St OT Taylor, and Montana LB Olson. The others I thought were 50/50 to get picked.”

Robinson’s legacy

Robinson is the all-time rushing leader in Illinois high school history, gaining 9,045 yards in four seasons at Rockford’s Lutheran High School. His 158 rushing touchdowns ranked fourth all-time nationally at the time he graduated.

Robinson left the ISU program No. 2 in rushing yards (4,462), rushing touchdowns (44), all-purpose yards (5,236) and total touchdowns scored (46).

During January’s East-West Shrine Bowl in St. Petersburg, Fla., Robinson rushed for 80 yards on seven carries and caught two passes for 56 yards. Robinson produced two highlight plays — a 46-yard catch and run off a screen pass and a game-record 63-yard touchdown burst.

Robinson’s teammate and East-West Shrine Bowl Defensive MVP Luther Kirk will sign as a undrafted free agent with Dallas.

BY SANDRA GUY

Of course, we’d love to use our stay-at-home lockdowns to finally get off the couch – and we’ve read countless news stories quoting experts that getting truly fit will strengthen our immunity at the most critical time in our lives.

How can you make that first move – the kind of step that leads you to a journey toward self-discipline, well-being and yes, admit it, a smile when you look in the mirror?

Here are well-worn tips, but it never hurts to read them again – and this time, something may click.

• Make a schedule and stick to it. Block out time when you won’t get bogged down in emails or phone calls. For me, it’s the first two hours of the morning. I click on a video of my favorite exercise teacher – the 46-year-old Sue Wen with the six-pack abs, who repeatedly says, “No phones. No interruptions.”

That’s because, to get the most out of a workout, you must be focused and intense. The intensity makes all the difference. Wen has a unique way of motivating me – she can have fun, but she means business, and doing her fast, aerobic-based workouts have kept me strong.

• Find your own music – music that energizes you, reminds you of fun times and gives you a jolt of energy. I watch spin-bike instructors on video while I’m exercising on a stationary bike, but I play my own favorite music from the 60s and 70s in the background.

• Stick with a tough, 45-minute-minimum routine, but vary the add-ons. My husband and I swear by “Les Mills’” body-pump classes because they are tough, intense and build muscle. But I find short online videos to tack on, whether that’s “Dance Body Arms,” “Six-Minute Standing Abs,” or a kettlebell routine.

• Visualize your strongest, most lithe and athletic self. Perhaps you were a lifeguard as a teen, practiced high-stepping for hours in the school marching band, or spent four hours one or two nights each week warming up to dance en pointe in a ballet class.

Now, cop an attitude. Repeat after me: I can still bust a move. I can still stand erect. I can still be a force. I can stay taut and strong. Hey, Baby Boomers, you know 50 is the new 30, right? Listen carefully as the teachers in the videos taunt you with phrases like, “As you’re pushing to rock the boat, say, ‘I hate my abs” (meaning, I’m going to rock and rock until I’m chiseled), or “OK, Sassy-town, [let’s get sassy!]” or “We Are Titans! [I’m going to keep pushing until the end].”

• Think of exercise as an opportunity for self-care and self-enrichment, rather than as a chore or a duty. Appreciate the ability to move and improve.

Now, make exercise a seamless aspect of your life. #No Excuses.

We’ve already noted that Argus Brewery has decided to close down, spurred by the COVID-19 isolation that ended draft beer sales. Now the Grumpy Goat Tavern in Elgin has announced they will be closing down. Now that we are extending the isolation until June, we might see more places going under, I’m afraid.

Monday, April 27

Tuesday, April 28

Wednesday, April 29

Thursday, April 30