A temporary hiatus – The vaccine rollout accelerates – CDC guidelines on masks – Prognostics for economic activity – From Raspberry to raid: the tribulations of Rudy Giuliani – Recent population trends – The lockdown in Turkey – Evening statistics
Fatigue has interfered with composing these journal entries – not the kind of fatigue associated with illness, however. On Monday I went with RS from Riverbend to Balls Bluff, which proved to be nearly 30 miles on foot, partly on account of an ill-advised “short cut” that wound up providing additional mileage to the original route. Yesterday I was supposed to go with the Vigorous Hikers on a there-and-back hike from Manassas Gap, but the combination of the effect of my recent exertions (over 95 miles in the last four days) and a couple of blisters on my toes made such a project impracticable. I did a few chores yesterday, such as mowing the lawn, restocking the larder, and catching up with accumulated Email; but I had little energy remaining for anything else. A ten-hour bout of sleep, however, was an effective restorative.
This morning while going on errands I noticed that vaccinations are now available at the local Safeway, which is about a ten-minute walk from my house. Two months ago I was fretting whether a vaccine would be available at all by this time of the year, but after a slow and unsteady start the state of Virginia, and Fairfax County in particular, is vaccinating at a furious pace. At this date 42.7% of the population has received at least one dose and 29.1% is fully vaccinated. If we take into account that the majority of vaccinations have been given to those who are 18 years or older, the rate for the adult population is even higher: 54.2% of American adults have received at least one dose and 37.3% are fully vaccinated. However, it will not do to become too complacent. The average daily rate of new cases is over 55,000 for the past seven-day period and the average daily death rate is over 650 – still on the high side.
The CDC has issued guidelines that allow a bit of latitude for those who are fully vaccinated. For everyone, masks are not needed for outdoor activities such as walking, running, and biking. But vaccinated people, in addition, do not need to wear masks for dining out of doors with others, regardless of whether the others are vaccinated or not. Masks are still recommended for everyone for numerous other activities, such as indoor dining, museum visiting, attending a full-capacity worship service, singing in an indoor chorus, and going to an indoor gym.
I had a consultation today with the financial advisors managing my mother’s holdings, and they are quite bullish about the market. People have not spent much during the worst times of the pandemic, and as a result the American consumer is relatively flush with cash. Now that the pandemic is (apparently) receding in this country Americans are eagerly shopping and buying and flinging money about with that fine reckless abandon for which we are so famous. Our national economy, in fact, runs on the supposition that Americans are not good savers and are thriftless and improvident in their habits; and it must be said that this assumption is borne out by the results. Demands for travel, as well, are already rising; airlines are hiring more pilots and stewards, and many cruise trips have been booked well into 2022.
Rudy Giuliani has been singled out for attention in many different ways over the past several months and recently he has received an accolade thoroughly in keeping with his recent renown. He is now the proud owner of a Golden Raspberry, awarded for his unwitting performance in the latest Borat film. Judges agreed that he swept the field in the Worst Supporting Actor category and had no hesitation in bestowing this award for his role of “Rudy Giuliani as Himself.” This was not the only notice he received; the award for “Worst Screen Combo” was given to “Rudy Giuliani and His Pants Zipper,” in reference to his thinly-disguised attempt to sexually assault the actress whom he believed was a journalist. This noteworthy achievement, however, pales in comparison with that of his fellow-Trumpkin, Mike Lindell. The CEO of MyPillow produced a documentary called “Absolute Proof,” which purports to demonstrate that a Chinese cyberattack “flipped” the 2020 election from former President Donald Trump to President Joe Biden. The film received the Worst Picture award and Lindell himself is the winner of the Worst Actor category – a prize which anyone who has seen the commercials promoting his product would say that he thoroughly deserves.
Giuliani has also been the object of scrutiny from the Federal government, whose investigators raided his Manhattan apartment today. It is fairly unusual to execute a search warrant against an attorney on account of the issues of client-attorney privilege; to execute a search warrant against an attorney of a former President is quite extraordinary. Without presuming his guilt, it is apparent that a judge has been persuaded sufficient evidence exists to justify such a search. Giuliani himself in his earlier career was an extremely successful prosecutor who put five New York Mafia leaders and the “junk bond kind” Mike Milken in prison by using similar methods, so it will be ironic if the investigators uncover the means of making him serve time as well.
The Census Bureau has issued the data that determines the state representation in the lower chamber. Texas will gain two seats, while Florida, Colorado, Montana, North Carolina, and Oregon will gain one. The following states will lose one seat: California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. California is losing a seat for the first time; people are fleeing as the tax state’s structure becomes increasingly burdensome. The population has increased by 7.4% in the past decade, the second-lowest increase in history for a ten-year period. The median age is now 38, as opposed to 37 in 2010.
India is not the only country that is being ravaged by the COVID virus. Turkey has instituted a three-week lockdown to combat the soaring number of new cases and deaths. The lockdown is far more restrictive than any that our nation has undergone. Residents may not go outside except for grocery shopping and other essential errands, and most businesses have been shut down. The lockdown is expected to place additional strain on the country’s economy, which already suffers from double digit inflation, sinking national currency, and bankrupt businesses,
Statistics for 4/26 as of 8:00 PM – # of cases worldwide: 149,312,998; # of deaths worldwide: 3,147,992; # of cases U.S.: 32,926,048; # of deaths; U.S.: 587,350.
Yesterday’s statistics as of 8:30 PM – # of cases worldwide: 147,780,245; # of deaths worldwide: 3,122,415; # of cases U.S.: 32,824,361; # of deaths; U.S.: 586,152.
Today’s statistics as of 8:00 PM – # of cases worldwide: 150,197,119; # of deaths worldwide: 3,163,021; # of cases U.S.: 32,983,326; # of deaths; U.S.: 588,322.