The Spill: Mask or Not?

The Trumps Wear Face Masks

To wear a mask or not to wear a mask, that is the question. Or, at least, that’s what American citizens have been debating since the Coronavirus pandemic first hit. Earlier in the crisis, the World Health Organization (WHO) said wearing one was not necessary for healthy people. Even Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the White House’s advisers on COVID-19, said there was no need to wear a mask. Then, the medical experts reversed their opinions, saying people should cover their faces to prevent the spread of this disease. So, there is little wonder that the American people are undecided on the matter, especially when the president also refused to wear a mask … until recently.

Donald Trump has been adamant about covering his face. He also said people end up touching their faces more often when wearing a mask.
But recently, the president was seen wearing a mask while visiting veterans at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Trump critics immediately called the act a response to increasing numbers of Coronavirus infections, but the president disagreed, saying, “I think when you’re in a hospital, especially in that particular setting, where you’re talking to a lot of soldiers and people that, in some cases, just got off the operating tables, I think it’s a great thing to wear a mask.” The president said it was kind of fun wearing one as he felt like the Lone Ranger.

The First Lady, Melania, took up mask-wearing as well and posted a video of herself wearing one at The Mary Elizabeth House charity. Many attribute the new mask-wearing to the higher number of COVID cases, but opponents argue that more testing, protesting and riots, and reopening of states have inflated the numbers and do not represent an accurate picture of the situation. In either case, the Trumps wearing masks was the big headline in the news, at least for one day.

Football Team Set to Change Name

All over the U.S., historic statues are being torn down as activists seek to erase reminders of America’s past. Many reminders of slavery are being taken down, but that’s just the beginning. Companies are looking at their brand names and products to see if any kind of affront or racial slur could be associated with them. The most recent group to join the bandwagon is the National Football League (NFL) and its Washington Redskins team.

The battle against the name has been raging for more than two decades as protesters said the name is a slur to Native Americans. But not everyone is on board with this change. Some suggest this is less about racial injustice than it is about money. “This is a political and financial decision,” said former center for the Redskins, Jeff Bostic, who claimed he will never call the team by any other name. “This isn’t what most people want. I’m sure if you’re taking polls in the D.C. area, how many want to keep or change it, I guarantee you the overwhelming number is probably to keep it.”The Washington Redskins have been known by that name for more than 80 years. The team has suggested the new name will honor Native Americans while adding a military theme. Coach Ron Rivera has been assigned the task of coming up with alternative names. “This issue is of personal importance to me,” Rivera said in a statement, “and I look forward to working more closely with [team owner] Dan Snyder to make sure we continue the mission of honoring and supporting Native Americans and our Military.”

The Rare and the Bizarre on Sale

Bargain hunters are forever on the lookout for the lowest prices. Then there are the other shoppers, those who don’t care about the price of an item, but more about its uniqueness. Estate sales and auctions are resources to find rare and bizarre objects, for those who can afford to pay the price. Recently, two items hit the market for these collectors: A Super Mario Bros Nintendo game and a vampire-slaying kit.

What’s so special about Super Mario Bros, you may wonder? Well, this particular game from 1985 had never been opened and still had the cardboard hang tags, which were only released for a brief time when the company was testing the market. Another thing that makes this so special? It sold for a whopping $114,000, making it the highest-selling single game on record. The lucky buyer chose to remain anonymous but is now the proud owner of a video game that set the stage for those we have today.

Okay, obviously Super Mario Bros was the “rare” element, so what about the “bizarre”? Listed as “Supernatural Interest,” a vampire-slaying box will be available in an auction starting July 21. It is estimated to be worth between $2,500 and $3,700 and includes everything a 19^th-century vampire hunter might need to accomplish his or her mission.

Inside the box, there are eight compartments. One holds an 1842 copy of the New Testament, other sections contain a knife with a silver blade, crucifixes and rosary beads, a pocket pistol, a small bottle with sharks’ teeth, and another vial with “contents unknown.”

Vampires everywhere, beware!