Hot Topic Friday: March 20

Happy Friday! Here are my March 20 Hot Topics and how they relate to advancing culture or leadership.

[Ed. Note: We know this one is a little long, but we thought many of you might appreciate the extra content this week as we all try to make the best out of the self-Q situation].

Hot Topic 1: Bright Spots During Dark Times.

What It’s About: Diamandis outlines some bright spot considerations as a result of this pandemic: So how about a chunky list of good news as an outcome of Peter’s abundant mindset?

“(1) Vaccine development: An experimental vaccine developed by Moderna Inc. began the first stage of a clinical trial on Monday, with testing on 45 healthy adults in Seattle.

(2) China's new cases plummet: China has now closed down its last temporary hospital built to handle COVID-19. Not enough new cases to warrant them.

(3) Drugs that work: Doctors in India have successfully treated two Italian patients with COVID-19, administering a combination of drugs — principally Lopinavir and Ritonavir, alongside Oseltamivir and Chloroquine. Several are now suggesting the same medical treatment, on a case-by-case basis, globally.

(4) Antibodies to the rescue: Researchers at the Erasmus Medical Center claim to have found an antibody that can fend off infection by COVID-19.

(5) 103-year-old recovery: A 103-year-old Chinese woman has made a full recovery from COVID-19 after being treated for 6 days in Wuhan, China, becoming the oldest patient to beat the disease.

(6) Stores reopening: Apple has reopened all 42 of its Apple retail stores in China.

(7) Test results in 2 hours: Cleveland’s MetroHealth Medical Center has developed a COVID-19 test that can now deliver results in just two hours, rather than in a matter of days.

(8) South Korea's dramatic drop in new cases: After its peak of 909 newly reported COVID-19 cases on February 29th, South Korea has now seen a dramatic drop in the number of new cases reported daily.

(9) Mortality rates inflated? Experts predict that Italy has seen a higher mortality rate of COVID-19 given its significant aging population, as well as its higher percentage of COVID-19 patients with pre-existing health conditions. This might suggest that COVID-19’s fatality rate may have been slightly more inflated than previously thought for the general population.

(10) Israeli vaccine development: More than 50 scientists in Israel are now working to develop a vaccine and antibody for COVID-19, having reported significant breakthroughs in understanding the biological mechanism and characteristics of the novel coronavirus.

(11) Full recoveries: Three patients in Maryland who tested positive for COVID-19 have now been reported to have “fully recovered.”

(12) Isolated virus: A network of Canadian scientists isolated the COVID-19 virus, which can now be replicated to test diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines.

(13) Yet another vaccine in the works: San Diego biotech company Arcturus Therapeutics is developing a COVID-19 vaccine in collaboration with Duke University and National University of Singapore.

(14) Treatment protocols: Seven patients who were treated for COVID-19 at Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh (SFS) Hospital and Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital in India have recovered. The treatment protocol will be widely scaled to other hospitals.

(15) Another treatment: Plasma from newly recovered COVID-19 patients (involving the harvesting of virus-fighting antibodies) holds promise for treating others infected by the virus.”

Why It’s Important: Frankly, we need to balance the continuous doom and gloom offered by 24-hour media outlets. Hope and encouragement are vital components of our health and well-being.

One Millennial Response: Remember that fear can also be considered an infectious virus. Unfortunately, we know some people can take extreme advantage of that for ugly motives, so be careful what you read/hear/ingest/share.

Hot Topic 2: One Vaccine That Never Runs Out.

Source: Richard Hendrick (Irish Franciscan).

What It’s About: You may have seen this poem go viral. If not, please read and enjoy a deep breath of fresh air.

“Lockdown

Yes there is fear.

Yes there is isolation.

Yes there is panic buying.

Yes there is sickness.

Yes there is even death.

But,

They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise

You can hear the birds again.

They say that after just a few weeks of quiet

The sky is no longer thick with fumes

But blue and grey and clear.

They say that in the streets of Assisi

People are singing to each other

across the empty squares,

keeping their windows open

so that those who are alone

may hear the sounds of family around them.

They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland

Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.

Today a young woman I know

is busy spreading fliers with her number

through the neighbourhood

So that the elders may have someone to call on.

Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples

are preparing to welcome

and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary

All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting

All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way

All over the world people are waking up to a new reality

To how big we really are.

To how little control we really have.

To what really matters.

To Love.

So we pray and we remember that

Yes there is fear.

But there does not have to be hate.

Yes there is isolation.

But there does not have to be loneliness.

Yes there is panic buying.

But there does not have to be meanness.

Yes there is sickness.

But there does not have to be disease of the soul

Yes there is even death.

But there can always be a rebirth of love.

Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.

Today, breathe.

Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic

The birds are singing again

The sky is clearing,

Spring is coming,

And we are always encompassed by Love.

Open the windows of your soul

And though you may not be able

to touch across the empty square,

Sing.”

Why It’s Important: Sometimes the world slows us down in unexpected, perhaps even scary ways. Yet if we breathe in slowly, we are given a chance to be reminded that SUPPORT and LOVE for each other is the ultimate scaleable “vaccine.” It’s always in inventory. The shelf is never empty if we choose to keep it full.

One Millennial Response: I never expected Hot Topics to include a poem, but there you go. Unexpected times call for unexpected posts (and hopefully a surprising breath of fresh air).

My Weekly Wine Recommendation.

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Megahertz Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 [Ed. Note: It doesn’t look like Vivino will be shipping for a while, but this bottle looks awesome. Instead, let’s go and support our local wine shops and small businesses/restaurants for the time being.]

And finally! Here’s Cecil’s Bleat of the Week!

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“Just for the record, happiness is not bulls*it” - Andrew Sean Greer.

Bye for now!

— Lorne Rubis

Incase you Missed It:

My latest Lead In podcast.

My latest blog.

Season 3 of Culture Cast.

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Happy Friday! Here are my March 20 Hot Topics and how they relate to advancing culture or leadership.

[Ed. Note: We know this one is a little long, but we thought many of you might appreciate the extra content this week as we all try to make the best out of the self-Q situation].

Hot Topic 1: Bright Spots During Dark Times.

Hot Topic 2: One Vaccine That Never Runs Out.

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