The Orange Crusher’s presidential denial of COVID-19 danger caused somewhere between 200,000 and half a million needless American deaths.
Now, Dr. T-Rump is favored to re-take the presidency.
Politics is just a big tailgate party for the Red Team. Covid, RSV and Influenza are just liberal hoaxes. The Washoe County School District no longer requires vaccinations. Just sign a paper, then avoid breathing.
Pause for a reality jab from the fake news New York Times. First, “1,380 Days with Long Covid” by victim Giorgia Lupi. Then, the story of mourning father George Watts, Sr., of Elmira, NY.
His 24 year-old son died in 2021. The local coroner listed Covid vaccine as a main cause, Watts posted the report online and the anti-vaxxers went ballistic, nuking science. The CDC is analyzing tissue samples but George Jr. was cremated, stifling inquiry. He apparently had undetected heart disease among other serious health issues, but some Americans loathe details. That has not stopped Internet experts who get their health advice from Donald “Drink Bleach” Trump.
SUICIDAL R US. Despite being in the red zone (and not in the good football way) for cascading viral infections and hospitalizations, Nevada is not among six states which recently required masks at all hospitals.
ThisIsReno.com’s story of the year was the case of a Gomorrah South doc who prescribed hydroxychloroquine to cure COVID, killing a Sparks man.
That fish tank cleaner was second only to bleach in Dr. T-Rump’s pharmacy.
HELP THE LIBRARY. Moonhowlers are trying to take over and ban books. Apply for a board position before January 17.
T-Rump’s PLAZA SUITE. The nation’s newest hip-hop rapper (Barbwire 12-27-23) recently denied bullying his way into a movie cameo. “Home Alone 2” director Chris Columbus said Trump insisted on his own scene in the 1992 film or he would not allow filming at the hotel. Trump said the producers begged him to appear. Columbus called him a liar. I believe Columbus.
“The Associate,” a delightful 1996 Whoopi Goldberg/Diane Wiest Wall Street satire, was also partially filmed at the Plaza. And Trump scored another cameo. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
SINGING THE BLUES. Blue State footballers beat two red state teams on Monday after Georgia started the hat trick last Saturday against Florida State. The Bulldogs whomped the formerly undefeated avatars of DeSatanistLand 63-3. In the Orange Bowl. In Republican “we still hate Fidel” Miami.
To be fair, Florida State had lost many star athletes seeking greener pastures. Can’t blame any of the helmet-wearing cannon fodder. They sacrifice their health and often their sanity for a humanity devouring sport.
The national championship playoffs are again on paid cable, not public airwaves. Which is obscene, because not only are some top players making half a million a year, but many have been paid by tax-exempt non-profits. Translation: You.
HOW TO BET? Fair warning from an oft-disappointed 49er fan: Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh’s madcap playcalling might suggest a bet on Washington. I’ve neither forgotten nor forgiven Harbaugh for ordering UNR legend Colin Kaepernick to thrice throw from the five-yard line against the Baltimore Ravens, thus losing the 2013 Super Bowl.
Meanwhile, the best running back in NFL history, Frank Gore, was left to twiddle his thumbs. Bet against Harbaugh’s suicidal ego.
54 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH. A kid was transferred to Reno from Gomorrah South to expand the northern operation of what would become Nevada’s largest ad agency. In January 1971, I arrived at the Reno quonset hut airport. (Yes, WW2 quonset huts!)
I had breakfast at Sambo’s Coffee Shop at the southwest corner of Plumb Lane and S. Virginia and was then transported to my first Reno twilight zone.
In KOLO TV-8’s studio at 5th and Wells under the overpass, I beheld two tables of bloody meat dripping on the floor under hot lights. Our clients, Nevada Chrysler-Plymouth’s good old boys, Jim Hayes and Odis Bass, pitched a free side of beef with every purchase and two free New York steaks just for taking a demo ride.
I was aghast. It sold a helluva lotta cars. I didn’t want to take the job but I’m glad I did. When the firm wanted to transfer me back to Vegas, I resigned to start my own shop.
ADIOS BILL PAGANETTI. My first office was an unused closing booth at the new Chrysler store. The dealership relocated from mid-town to S. Virginia and Carano. (The Peppermill eventually bought the Chrysler property for its north parking lot.)
I beat several local ad agencies to represent the new European Health Spa which still stands today on the Peppermill block. Their execs told me about this crackerjack manager running the Sizzler Family Steak House up the street. His name was Bill Paganetti. I first saw him working the charbroiler.
Bill and Nat Carasali apparently persuaded the Hill Family, which owned property on both sides of Virginia Street, to let them start the Peppermill Coffee Shop in front of their motel. The place featured double the usual portions for three times the price, perfect for American tastes.
Despite a forthcoming media image fostered by former general manager Phil Bryan, the Peppermill was always anti-organized labor. Bryan once told a TV station that however employees wanted to be represented, individually or thru a union, it was fine with management. Not necessarily.
Every time housekeeping staff wanted a raise, they’d start openly meeting with Culinary Union organizers. They always got a raise and the organizing drive fizzled. Offering perks to your staff to avoid unionization is a wee bit illegal, but hey, this is Reno.
In 2006, after his staff refused, I was able to persuade Bill to buy a congratulatory program ad for the Sparks Plumbers & Pipefitters union’s centennial dinner held at his towering achievement.
He was a helluva manager and apparently a very persuasive salesman.
Vaxx up, stay safe, pray for Ukraine and almost 100 other currently war-torn lands.
Be well. Raise hell. / Esté bien. Haga infierno.
Andrew Quarantino Barbáno is a 55-year Nevadan and editor of NevadaLabor.com/ Barbwire by Barbano has originated in the Tribune since 1988. E-mail barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us Links with this column at NevadaLabor.com/
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