Shenandoah River State Park – Rudy Giuliani – Evening statistics
Today I went with the Capital Hiking Club to Shenandoah River State Park. We covered much of its network of trails, with numerous views of the Shenandoah River winding through the valley. It was very warm, but not oppressively humid, and there was a great deal of shade. As a result of the higher levels of rain than usual in July and much of August, as I noted earlier, the leaves have not shrunk and withered as they tend to do at this time of year, just before the leaves change color. I and two others took a slight detour along the Wildcat Ridge Trail, which views the valley from a higher level, adding about ½ mile round trip and 300 feet of elevation gain to the hike. The age level of this group is considerably younger than that of the Wanderbirds, particularly under current conditions, when it has not received any new members for many months as a result of the pandemic. I must try to hike with this group more often, not only because I am its Director of Trails but also because it is just as well to measure my abilities with those in younger generations.
Rudy Giuliani is, it must be admitted, displaying a good deal of spirit, considering his difficulties. Not only is he currently the subject of investigation from Fani Wallis for his role in the attempt to derail the electoral results in Georgia and is in danger of paying heavy penalties should the lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems be ruled in the latter’s favor, but his ex-wife has also recently sued him, alleging that he owes her more than a quarter of a million dollars according to the terms of their divorce agreement. Her attorney has claimed that Giuliani could be held in contempt of court for skipping out on the payment. But he seems to be daunted not at all by these threats. Last week he was merrily partying in Times Square Bar Halswell Green’s for the birthday party of Lauren Conlin, a veteran radio broadcaster, along with his current girlfriend, laughing, enjoying the band music, and even dancing. “People were actually excited about him,” said one onlooker. “There was kind of a commotion when he arrived and then once someone asked him for a picture, a whole load of people wanted a picture. I think it probably felt like the old days for him.” A few of the attendees even asked him whether he would consider running for office again. Is his behavior a display of confidence in the face of adversity? an attempt to recapture the adulation he received in happier days? or simple bravado? Who can say?
Today’s statistics as of 10:00 PM – # of cases worldwide: 609,891,484; # of deaths worldwide: 6,502,640; # of cases U.S.: 96,616,505; # of deaths; U.S.: 1,072,930.