Covid inspires an unlikely renaissance of cartoons, milkmen, and drive-in movies

TOMORROW IS THE DAY of the National Pharmaceutical Congress Spring 2020 Webinar: "After This Rude Interruption: What the Life Sciences Will Look Like After the Covid Crisis"  Wed., May 20, 11 a.m. to noon (EDT.) Panel discussion of thought-leaders from the Canadian Life Sciences and physician communities to discuss and determine the way forward. Faculty includes: Wendy Adams, Galderma Canada; Peter Brenders, Kontollo Health (lead panellist); Dr. Wayne P. Gulliver, Memorial University of Newfoundland & Labrador; Robin Hunter, Malinckrodt; Richard Lajoie, Bausch Health; Mitch Shannon, Chronicle Companies (host.) Registration is free. Register now at http://tiny.cc/NPC-Spring

May 19, 2020 -- Today’s instalment of the Daily CurveFlattener comes to you from Chronicle global HQ in picturesque Etobicoke, Ont., where Editorial Director Allan Ryan is keeping the office neat and tidy, in case anybody should happen to drop by.

The Covid-19 pandemic has placed many businesses, especially those that are independently owned and operated, on the cusp of bankruptcy. But at the same time, there are a few businesses—relatively few, to be certain—that are seeing a fiscal boost as a result of the restrictions created in response to the pandemic. Graphic artists and voice actors, for example, are in high demand. Cartoon versions of sitcoms and dramas are set to take the place of the unsustainable live action form that required large numbers of cast and crew.

On a smaller, community scale, the milkman has emerged as a provider of a valuable service during the pandemic. Last observed delivering the magic elixir door-to-door in a horse-drawn wagon in the 1950s and early ‘60s, some milk delivery services such as Hillside Dairy in Erie County in Western New York offering home delivery were quickly oversubscribed, according to the Buffalo (N.Y.) News. The owner has brought in four other trucks and drivers to try to meet the demand.

And what goes together with cartoons and dairy products? The drive-in theatre. This article provides an interesting overview. On the brink of extinction because of changing habits, real estate values and other factors, the drive-in has been revived in some constituencies by Covid-19. There are some built-in positive aspects: Your Renault 5 will provide a solid personal distancing option from other movie-goers (though sneaking no-pay friends into the showing might be difficult in that particular auto model). To meet the laws of the local jurisdictions, theatres are offering online ticket purchases, and emphasizing social distancing and mask-wearing at the concession stand and the washrooms. The group United Drive-in Theatre Owners Association figures there are about 305 drive-ins remaining in the U.S.

And in the province of British Columbia, community groups are organizing fresh air cinema nights, with proceeds going to local food banks to help those affected by Covid-19.


COVID CHRONICLE 05/19/2020 

• A Vitamin D deficiency may be linked to more severe cases of COVID-19, according to a new report. Researchers from Northwestern University in Illinois discovered that lower levels of vitamin D were found in patients from countries with high Covid-19 mortality rates compared to patients in countries not as severely affected. The vitamin D deficiency might be linked to a more severe cytokine storm in these patients. A study from the U.K. found a link between higher levels of vitamin D and fewer Covid-19 cases and deaths among 20 European countries. The study was published in the journal Aging Clinical and Experimental Research.
• A new study of European children infected with Covid-19 has shown they have a lower risk of death than adults with the disease. Two-thirds of the 168 children who tested positive for Covid-19 had at least one infected parent, whose symptoms often appeared before those of the child. 
• Antibodies from llamas could help create a Covid-19 vaccine, according to this recent report from this new study in Cell. The researchers referred to previous research where antibodies from a llama were found to neutralize both SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV viruses over six weeks. 
• "But I thought you were doing the refills": In The Netherlands, some IKEA customers were treated for first-degree burns after an employee used drain cleaner to top up a hand sanitizer container. IKEA apologized for the incident, but the customers affected have already retained a personal injury lawyer. 

STORIES CHRONICLE IS WORKING ON TODAY

Assistant Editor Kylie Rebernik is sourcing contacts and writing an article on Body Dysmorphic Disorder in Acne Patients, for an upcoming issue of The Chronicle of Skin & Allergy.


RIGHT NOW WE ARE LISTENING TO CUTS FROM...

Fred J. Eaglesmith’s 1996 track "Drive-In Movie," from an album of the same name, is my designated song of the day. Here’s an interview with Fred J., a resident of Port Dover, Ont., which was conducted during the launch of his latest tour back in January, just before Covid-19 went ker-blooey...

AND NEXT WE ARE LISTENING TO THIS PODCAST...

Under the Influence by former ad copywriter Terry O'Reilly is an always interesting take on the links between pop culture, marketing and, oh yes, human nature. He's got a good voice for radio and makes some surprising connections. Worth a flyer.


AND THAT'S A WRAP...

Which is what happens to be on the top of the menu for dinner. Lettuce, radishes, lots of green olives, mushrooms and some tuna-in-water, supplemented with green chiles. Not bad.


HOW WAS YOUR DAY?

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That's all for now. Stay in touch, stay safe and enjoy your long weekend. Senior Editor John Evans will provide your Wednesday morning Covid-related updates.