I watch "The Backyard Scientist" on YouTube occasionally. He's a college student in FL who does ridiculous experiments in his backyard. He usually wears shorts and a short-sleeve shirt for somewhat dangerous experiments. I don't know how he can get away with all the smoke and noise he makes in his neighborhood.

Anyway, he played around with lithium batteries in one video. While taking one apart, it exploded into flames. He got another explosion later in the video. This isn't a little smoldering and smoking. It's explosive flames. I hope someone develops a powerful safe battery soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHNXmhNnLK8

The Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918 killed 675,000 Americans alone. Not including the rest of the world. The H1N1 Flu of 2009, killed 284;000 people. We also had SARS and Ebola. Ebola was primarily an African Continent problem. Let's just hope that the Coronavirus does not become a 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic. Or the 2009 H1N1 Flu. The 18 elderly that died in a rest home in America was shocking. I believe this Coronavirus will pass, just as the previous respiratory diseases became. And, after this passes. The WHO and the CDC, should be better prepared, to cope with the next global respiratory diseases, that become global. Whenever it comes?. Students from the USA, studying in Italy, have been recalled back home immediately. A first time adventure that soon ended for them. A store manager, told me yesterday, that her trip to Venice, Italy has to be postponed. No refunds, but you have one year to reschedule the trip. Better later, than never. Best defense is washing your hands regularly. And, don't touch your mouth and nose.

When they were first introduced, I avoided self-service cash checkouts because I thought they were taking jobs from people. I know someone who works in retail, and these DIY stations are not putting people out of work. In his store, it's not unusual for half a dozen people to just not show up for work. Maybe they will call and say they're coming in, but generally, they just don't show up. One day last week, there was only one person available to work a register. Without the DIY stations, they would have had a major problem. The store is paying a decent salary, well above the minimum. People don't show up, or they take extended breaks and lunches. This behavior covers all age ranges, from young to old. I can't understand it. I was in a supermarket last week, and only one register was open. A manager said that five people had called in "sick."

When I was in high school, I worked in a supermarket, and people showed up on time and did their work. We could count on each other to keep things flowing smoothly. So, don't turn your nose up at these self-service checkouts. They exist for your convenience.