Before face masks, Americans went to war against seat belts (Business Insider)

A woman fastens her seat belt in 1970. – Lambert/Getty Images

Oh, boy, do I remember this from the 1960’s. I remember my Dad installing seat belts in our car. As a kid, I was not at all political (but definitely a nerd) and remember rolling my eyes at the “better to be thrown from the car” argument. What, through the windshield? “What if the car goes into water or catches fire” (I guess it can’t do both) makes a bit more sense, but are way too improbable to pay the price of not being protected.

I suspect many people still don’t understand that belts work with the “[wiki base=”EN”]crumple zone[/wiki]” in front as a shock absorber to reduce g-forces in a crash.

“You wanna bounce through this one?” the exec asks the crew in the deceleration scene in [wiki base=”EN”]Forbidden Planet[/wiki].

Beware — this all assumes compliance with masking and social distancing. Here’s a summary, but obviously read the New York Times article for details.

1. A BYOB backyard gathering with one other household: low to medium risk. ✅⚠️
2. Eating indoors at a restaurant: medium to high risk — “one of the riskiest things you can do. ⚠️?
3. Attending a religious service indoors: high risk. ?
4. Spending the day at a popular beach or pool: low risk — “as long as you can stay socially distanced”. ✅
5. An outdoor celebration such as a wedding with more than 10 guests: medium to high risk. ⚠️?
6. Using a public restroom: low to medium risk — ventilation is the variable here. ✅⚠️
7. Letting a friend use your bathroom: low risk (turn the fan on). ✅
8. Going to a vacation house with another family: low risk. ✅
10. Getting a haircut: medium to high risk. ⚠️?
11. Going shopping at a mall: risk varies. ❓
12. Going to a nightclub: high risk. ?
13. Going camping: low risk. ✅
14. Exercising outdoors: low risk ✅?

I was confused at first that the DuPage County website only has due dates for 2019, but as with income tax, you pay 2019 taxes in 2020. The due dates this year are June 1st and September 1st, but due to COVID-19, the DuPage County Board adopted an ordinance to waive penalties for late payment of the June 1st installment property taxes for those who qualify.

• Press Release
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• An Office Hours page has been added providing information for Diane’s general office hours and Mark’s tech office hours on Zoom.
• A “Report Problems” button has been added to the sidebar. If you have any difficulties with the website, please let us know.
• The top main menu bar has been slimmed down. The “More” link on the far right (physically, not politically) leads to everything else. This include a page with a complete list of website content.
• There is now a floating button at the lower right which takes you to the top of the page.

As I listen to the vitriol in the news and on Facebook about how angry these protesters are; I feel lucky and insulated that I live in Lisle. When I take my dogs for a walk in my neighborhood and I walk by my neighbors they smile and say hello andif the opportunity is there and we’re not too distant – but respectfully 6 feet apart –  we will strike up a conversation checking on each other. This is my world and I am so happy that it IS my world.

But I worry about the communities where the people on social media are so angry and I hear these news reports and I see these communities I wonder are they ever going to come together and be able to help each other?  I have begun a little campaign of my own to start calling out these reports and those who champion their causes: #NoEmpathy. It’s the only explanation I can come up with to explain why people can be so callous as to encourage anything that can and WILL cause harm to large populations of their communities, their neighbors and very likely even their families.  I encourage you to join me and not let these people’s posts slide, call them out either with my hash tag or one of your making.  Tell them to stop subscribing to conspiracy theories or challenge them to watch a few current episodes of the Rachel Maddow show; but do not let their ignorance in this case slide. It is a matter of life and death today.

I will always choose to look at the beauty around me and choose to be happy and think of ways to help my neighbors and help my community and build each other upand not tear each other down. I have a lot of empathy in me and I know that is why I will continue to follow the orders and stay at home/wear a mask and protect my neighbors and my community because I don’t know if I have Covid and no one knows if they have Covid unless they’ve been tested and we can’t get a test; so I’m going to do the right thing and I’m going to encourage others to do the right thing.

During my walks I’ve been snapping pictures to remind me that nature heals the earth, spring has sprung, nature is reborn every year and the pictures remind us that we too will overcome this disease.  Enjoy the pictures, stay positive,  and think of what you can do to help your community, trust me it does make you feel better and gives you a lighter heart; Sandy and I gave blood on Tuesday another thing thatdoes really make you feel better.