Life, liberty, and the pursuit of health information

A slow erosion of our liberties is a price we’re paying for coming out the other end on the coronavirus pandemic. Some of our civil liberties may be eroded; it’s just too early to tell for how long. However, the list of what we are not allowed to do seems to be getting longer based on the governor of each state reacting to the numbers of coronavirus cases. Right or wrong, our fundamental belief in medical privacy called HIPAA is the latest target for eroded rights.

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5 things to look forward to when nothing seems certain

Although nothing in life is ever guaranteed, the coronavirus pandemic and the quarantine lifestyle definitely bring this fact into the light. What can you look forward to during these uncertain times? Turns out there are still some things to get excited about.

Put on a happy face

If you happen to get in your car and drive through Sun City, most likely you may only see a couple of cars, an empty parking lot at the Lodge, and a few people walking.

But you also might see resident Todd Kane, sporting a rainbow top hat to match his Skittle-colored beard, smiling and holding a sign that says, “Don’t Worry Be Happy.”

Peace Corps service cut short by COVID-19 threat

It was just a normal Monday morning, and Brad Christin was getting ready to go to work. Suddenly, the quiet morning was interrupted by an onslaught of texts and emails on his phone.

Christin, 23, a Peace Corps volunteer, was living in Capitán Miranda, Paraguay. But on that Monday in March, as COVID-19 Coronavirus made its way across the globe, Brad knew from the countless texts and emails that his 27-month service in the Peace Corps was going to be cut short after only 18 months. He was leaving South America and going home.

Local teen uses 3D printer to make face shields for healthcare workers on the frontlines of COVID-19

When Gail Tepper and her husband, Artie, first heard that their grandson was part of a growing movement to help make masks for healthcare workers, they couldn’t be prouder. Describing the teen as, “a wonderful, kind and caring young man that is very knowledgeable with computers,” it was no surprise to the Teppers that his efforts would catch the attention of the Great Big Story, a media company whose micro-documentaries and short films have been viewed by millions of people on websites like Facebook and YouTube.

The View of a senior’s morning at the supermarket

From the view of a senior shopper, the supermarket experience is all new. Many supermarkets are following “senior hours” generally a few mornings a week. Among the stores in McHenry County, Jewel and Mariano’s have scheduled “senior hours” into their operation.

Perfection only makes oddity more appealing

I was eating Pringles the other day for the first time in a thousand years, and I wondered: “How do they get them all to look like this, each of them perfectly nestled, each with the gentle swoop of a Panama hat brim without the crown?”

I have no idea why that can of Pringles ended up on my snack tray, because I never eat junk like that. I’m more of a health-food nut — Fritos or Cheetos. Never Pringles.

Hoping to preserve as much normalcy as possible, Campbell stumbled onto a creative way to continue to stay active with other neighbors while following social distancing protocols.