According to a review of various American news sources, the COVID-19 Delta variant has greatly increased the popularity of the word “Rages” in newspaper headlines.
“As The Delta Variant Rages, Calls Grow For Vaccine Mandates” — NPR
“Mortgage Rates Stay Low as Delta Rages, but Higher Rates are Expected” — Moneywise magazine
“Delta Variant Rages Through Tri-Cities Area.” — Tri-City Herald
“Hawaii Covid Hospitalizations Climb As Delta Variant Rages” — Honolulu Civil Beat
“Chaos and Confusion: Back to School Turns Ugly as Delta Rages” — Politico
“As Delta Variant Rages, More Workers Are on Edge About Return to the Office” — Wall Street Journal
I wish I’d had my stock broker invest in 1,000 shares of “Rages” for me, a few months ago. I’d be a wealthy man by now.
But the word “rage” has always been connected, in my little brain, with the emotion known as “anger.” As in, “uncontrollable rage” and “road rage” and “in a fit of rage”.
Somehow, I’m having a hard time envisioning an angry virus. I’ve always thought of viruses as sort of laid-back, just going about their business of infecting people, without making too big a deal about it.
Apparently, the Delta variant is not only more contagious than all the other variants; it also has anger management issues. No wonder the vaccines don’t seem to be working they way the scientists expected them to. Pfizer and Moderna and the other pharmaceutical companies thought they were dealing with a normal coronavirus — the type you could sit down and have a reasonable conversation with. But no. From what I can tell from all these news headlines, the Delta variant flies off the handle at the slightest provocation.
Booster shots? That’s just going to piss him off even worse.
I myself have a bit of personal experience with anger management issues, having been married to a woman who could probably take on the Delta variant with one hand tied behind her back. When Darlene was sweet, she was sweeter than a candy shop. But when things weren’t going her way, exactly when she wanted them to be going her way, and exactly in the direction she wanted them to be going… well, that’s when I could have cashed in my stock market investment in the word, “rage”.
Based on that personal experience, I would suggest that you don’t want to argue with an angry virus. You will not win. Especially if the virus is also bipolar.
Unfortunately, anger is contagious, just like other types of infections. When your wife or your friend or your boss lights into you, you’re probably going to be contaminated, and wind up angry. Even if you’re wearing a N95 face mask.
Most people, unless they have the temperament of the Dalai Lama, cannot help but get infected by an angry adversary. And there’s no known vaccine against rage.
That’s the biggest problem with the Delta variant, as I see it. It’s not only making everyone sick; it’s making everyone angry.
No kidding. I’ve never seen so many people, so angry.
Underrated writer Louis Cannon grew up in the vast American West, although his ex-wife, given the slightest opportunity, will deny that he ever grew up at all.