VIRTUAL REALITY

Virtual: not physically existing as such but made by software to appear to do so.

This Associated Press (AP) graph was published on the Local News 8/KID 3 Eyewitness News website. The AP cites information as coming from the World Health Organization who got their information from the Chinese Communist Party who prefer that we call the Wuhan Flu, "COVID-19." So the AP bows to the Chinese Communist Party and the World Health Organization, who early on and together launched a worldwide disinformation campaign that cost hundreds of thousands of lives. Now they want us to believe that while China contributes next to zero new cases of the Wuhan Flu, the "Rest of world" accounts for several hundred thousand cases each day. Most of you already know that the World Health Organization is beholden to and synonymous with the Chinese Communist Party and that their propaganda is regularly released by the AP. You already recognize that this virtual graph is unbelievable and you have no problem dismissing it as Chinese Communist Party propaganda. You also know that this stuff is coming to us via the AP who seem bent on shutting this country down until after November 3rd. (You will have to add your own clever commentary here on this trio of conspirators, as I have already said too much and have been re-educated by Mary Kay about inserting my own clever and enlightening political opinions regarding virtual media accountability.)

Mary Kay says that my political views and comments are redundant and that most readers already know that the news, politics and sporting events are being distorted by the biased media. I, on the other hand, find my thoughts to be razor-sharp and insightfully amusing. The reason I have deleted my comments here is in the interest of remaining positive and staying in the good graces of one of the few people on this earth who still thinks that I am God's Gift to Warthogs. Side note: this is a reference to Gary Larson's 1983 cartoon that accurately skewers rich humor, the male ego, and warthogs with a single strike. It is copyrighted, so I cannot publish it here, but you can Google-search, "Gary Larson, God's Gift to Warthogs," and enjoy this profoundly humorous message for yourself.

I still feel compelled to describe some virtual events of the day, minus some of my very entertaining political sarcasm. This betrays my membership in the National Sarcasm Society where the credo is, "Yeah, like we need your support."

Even prestigious east coast universities are not immune to fake events. This month the 50th reunion for my medical school class will be virtual. I guess we will all Zoom in and reunite. Virtual events are planned. There is even a virtual 5K. This is where those who want to participate actually run in their own community. Then they report their time and send it to the reunion committee with a contribution to the medical school. Those who still think they are 20 can show off their times to the rest of us who realize that we are in our 70's and will not be running. The last time I ran in an event, was the Island Park 4th of July 5K. As I was still going out to the 5K turn around point, I met the much younger and faster 10K leaders who were returning from the 10K turn around point. It was comforting to learn later that they were on college track teams. In my age group, none of the finish times were impressive and all of us who eventually crossed the finish line were considered winners. I guess I could train again and gear up, go out and run another 5K, submit a virtual time, and try to impress my classmates by just finishing. Nah. That would mean that I would have to give up trying to keep up with Mary Kay on our daily speed walk around the island.

I may look into getting a cardboard cutout version of myself to plunk down in front of these virtual events. Virtual Roger could watch virtual ball games, virtual news, and Zoom in on virtual meetings. I could even put a real mask on my cardboard cutout so everyone else will feel more comfortable. I am sure that as I am being monitored, it would appear that I am glued to the television, following the constant barrage of Wuhan Flu carnage updates. I had some really excellent political sarcasm to put here about virtual China, the Wuhan Flu, the NBA, Zoom meetings, and well known virtual political figures, but, having narrowly survived the warthog story, I have deleted the sarcasm in the interest of remaining alive and married. For the moment, I am satisfied with just figuring out how to attach my cardboard cutout to someone much younger, running a 5K who looks like he will have an impressive time.

Virtually vigilant, Roger Tall, M.D. UPSTREAM IDAHO A VIEW FROM THE HEADWATERS OF THE SNAKE RIVER WHERE EVERYTHING ELSE IS DOWNSTREAM