damont

(Originally posted to my GoFundMe, and backdated to the date of that original post. This is basically copied verbatim (modulo formatting), including the fundraising stuff at the end; I *was* posting to GoFundMe after all. Feel free to ignore those bits if you want. Link to the fundraiser will be provided in the comments and upon request.)

Taking a break from "updates from the world of pharmaceutical chemistry" for today's installment of "SARS-COV-2/COVID-19 related PSA meets the traditional begging post" hybrid, here's something I ran across over the weekend. Because of its nature, I'm going to jump right into a piece of the begging. As regular readers may expect right now, in addition to the usual plea for help for ourselves, I'm going to ask those of you who can to SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES that are still open. Help keep your local economy a little bit more afloat, as and if you can. And remember that once the worst of this has passed, locally owned businesses will be struggling to get back on their feet, so please be ready to patronize them as much as you can when it's time for them to reopen.

And why did I mention that first? Because today's post is about supporting your local restaurants, for those of you who can afford it, by ordering takeout or delivery but getting TWO (or more) meals worth of food, doing something creative with the leftovers, and posting your results on social media with the hashtag #LeftoversChallenge -- I first heard about this from Binging With Babish, but I actually like this video better because it's a collaboration between three Internet cooking show folks. So here's the #LeftoversChallenge from The Burger Show (warning, NSFW language):

Binging with Babish, Mythical Chef Josh, and Alvin Cook the Ultimate Leftovers Burger

And here's a longer list of YouTube videos on the topic.

And now, on to the rest of the usual begging. Because we STILL can't afford shame, here's my shameless and desperate plea for help. Please PLEASE spread the word as much as you feel able; share this fundraiser on lots of social media, by email, even by writing the link on pieces of paper and passing them around. Encourage folks you know to donate and to spread the word themselves. I've long since estimated that I'll need about 1,000 different contributors to make the goal, so getting the word out is important. And IF YOU ARE ABLE TO, please donate, though we know that a few of you have done so in the past couple of weeks (for which A GREAT BIG THANK YOU) and lots of you just can't. But even a spare fin or sawbuck, if that's all you can afford, is appreciated. Every little bit helps. (Remember, NO FEELING GUILTY if you don't have the means to contribute, or enough spoons to spread the word as far as you'd like.) And just as with the last several of these photo-less begging posts, if you have any job leads for either of us, PLEASE contact us! Relocation is TOTALLY an option.

Again, if anyone here actually is in a position to help out, right now is a really awesome time to do so. If you can't, you can't; I understand that better than most... thanks in advance for whatever you can do, and best greetings of the season to you and yours. May the weather in your part of the world be clement (I keep reminding myself that today's wintry cold rain is NOT as bad as it could be). STAY SAFE. Wash your hands, keep hydrated, boost your immune system by whatever means works for you. Practice social distancing as much you realistically can. Keep in touch with your friends and loved ones from a safe distance. Tell them you care and that you're thinking of them. And as always, thank you for your continued support.