#WhatsHappening for December 6, 2020

There are, what? Twenty-five days left in the year? Anyone besides me clenched up, waiting for the next disaster?Anyway, fingers crossed.

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Sadly, one of the things that's got me worried is how indifferent people seem to be to the fact that Coronavirus cases continue to soar, along with hospitalizations and deaths.

The New York Times offers the following three suggestions for helping tamp down the latest wildfire spread of the virus:

1. There is one behavior you should try to eliminate, without exception: Spending time in a confined space (outside your household) where anyone is unmasked.

Don’t eat indoors at a restaurant or friend’s house. Don’t have close, unmasked conversations anywhere, even outdoors. If you must fly, try to not to eat or drink on the plane. If you’re going to work, don’t have lunch in the same room as colleagues. Group lunches have led to outbreaks at hospitals and elsewhere.

2. This next set of behaviors is best to minimize if you can’t avoid it: Spending extended time in indoor spaces, even with universal masking.

Masks aren’t perfect. If you can work out at home rather than at a gym — or do your job or attend religious services remotely — you’re reducing your risk.

3. Now the better news: Several activities are less risky than some people fear.

You don’t need to wear a mask when you go for a walk or a jog. Donald, who’s famously careful, bikes without a mask. “I consider keeping six feet distant outdoors more important than wearing a mask,” he told me. “If I had a birthday candle in my hand and you’re too far away to blow it out, I can’t inhale whatever you exhale.”

You can also feel OK about doing many errands. About 90 percent of the epidemiologists in our survey have recently visited a grocery store, a pharmacy or another store. Just wear a mask, stay distant from others and wash your hands afterward.

I get it- some of these might be a pain in the ass. Sitting on the deck or patio of your favorite restaurant when it's cold? What fun is that?
Well, a fuckload lots more fun that getting a potentially life-threatening disease. 

I'm not perfect- I've been guilty of "risky" behavior (story of my life, actually), but- we all need to do better.

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It was on this day in 1988 that Roy Orbison died from a heart attack. He was just 52. I was shocked when I realized it was 32 years ago. Then again, when I realized he was my age. And probably in better shape.

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TNT has been running the 10 Star Wars movies they have the broadcast rights to this weekend. That medal ceremony scene in the original... I freaking love that. 

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I hate to disagree with someone as absolutely awesome as Dolly Parton, but I do not want to hear a Beyoncé cover of Jolene.

Parton told NME in a new interview that the White Stripes "did a wonderful job of it... But nobody’s ever had a really big hit record on it,", adding she thinks Knowles might be able to make a version a la Whitney Houston's cover of I Will Always Love You (which, in my mind, it crap- and yes, I realize I'm in the minority), which she says she's proud of.

"I had a number one with I Will Always Love You twice, once in the Seventies then I did it in the movie The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and had another number one in the eighties. And then Whitney did it and it was considered one of the greatest love songs of all time. Still to this day I take a lot of pride in that."

Parton also said she "cried all night long" after turning down Elvis Presley’s request to record a cover of the song due to a dispute over money.

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This made me laugh...

Hi, @chancetherapper. If you are very obviously a rapper why did you put it in your stage name? I cannot stop thinking about this.

— Dionne Warwick (@_DionneWarwick) December 5, 2020

I mean, it makes me tremendously happy to realize that a legend like Ms. Warwick wonders about silly shit, just like I do. And I, too, have wondered about some of the names people pick as stage names and why bands chose the names they do. I mean, a lot of band names are kind of obvious, but then there are the ones like Cannibal & The Headhunters where I just go... what?
One I do not want to ponder, though, is Revolting Cocks.

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Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith will join Mike Myers and Dana Carvey for a virtual Wayne’s World reunion tomorrow as part of Josh Gad’s Reunited Apart YouTube series. The show is being put on in support of the First Responder’s Children’s Foundation.

The show was posted as starting at 9am EST/12pm PST. Yes, that seems reversed. Check Gad's Twitter and Instagram pages for updated information.

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Evanescence has announced a release date for their new album, The Bitter Truth, telling fans the band's first album of original material in ten years will hit stores on March 26 of next year.

In celebration of the announcement, the band has released the single Yeah Right.