May 6, 2020

Hey Gang,

This issue of Vital Signs features llamas, a deer, a parrot singing death metal, and Gary Busey ranting about a box of 30 snakes. That’s all I got. That and cookies. Really good cookies. Happy Wednesday!

News & Resources

• Executive Transitions and Onboarding in a Crisis – many of you asked for advice about onboarding a new hire remotely, so here are some tips from RRA

• All Essential Workers Can Now Get Free COVID Testing Without Any Symptoms – SF news relevant to lab workers

• RRA’s CEO was recently interviewed on Bloomberg Daybreak: Americas to discuss how companies can prepare for the post-pandemic future

• Hoping Llamas Will Become Coronavirus Heroes – more llama news!

Food Fight – send me yours!

You guys are very competitive when it comes to cookies. After Paul Greenall’s cookie submission, I was barraged with cookie entries! This one rose to the top, thanks in part to the multi-media submission (see slow-mo video and recipe here).

Nice work, Josh Ofman, with an honorable mention to Jeff Huber. The Holy GRAIL of Cookie Recipes. (See what I did there?)

Chef’s comments: “Best chocolate cookies ever... scientifically derived... it is all in the chemistry! Given to me by Jeff Huber after tasting his daughter's cookies. Follow the recipe exactly! Will not disappoint.”

(Hopefully I don’t get sued by Cook’s Illustrated for sharing this article from 1996… reminder to see attached video)

Cuteness Contest

This guy watched me water the garden this morning! (Let it be known this is the first time I’ve used the words “water the garden” and “me” in the same sentence.) Name suggestions?

A Little Levity

• CORRECTION: None of you called me out on this, which must mean you haven’t yet watched this parrot sing death metal [Yesterday, I incorrectly attributed the song to Rage Against the Machine. The band is, in fact, Drowning Pool.]

• Gary Busey to Adjudicate Animal Arguments on New Show ‘Pet Judge’ – Yes! Just in time… needed a new show

• Better than a rabbit, attached is a video of a magician pulling a beer (or two) out of a hat (or a shoe)

Be well,

Jackie