Plagues on your house

 Surprisingly there are just a few articles that parallel Covid-19  and the Antonine Plague. This article talks about resilience after the plague and Commodus. But does not mention that for the first time in 75 years a  natural son of  the emperor had succeeded him.  In prior years years emperors were picked (from the family), adopted sons. It does not reflect to the fact that Marcus Aurelius was a philosopher prince but mediocre as emperor...And  the historian does not mention the despondency that led to the emergence of Christianity, that became a state religion only about 150 years later. Other articles talk also about climate change or trade China...Everything was there...

Going South

 All these solid fences are not stopping ideas to cross the border North and politicians to go South. To bring the caudillo back. Or is it a Duce?

smoke talk

 Found in an MIT publication from 1917 that an architect gave a smoke talk. That meant an after dinner presentation.  Now smoking would bring an R rating to a movie. Smoke means trouble. I would  interpret a smoke talk as blowing smoke such as trying to  hide reality or as per Urban Dictionary Just another saying meaning to chirp or insult someone.