Morning statistics – Shopping at a popular grocery chain – Kim Jong-un – Tony Spell above the law – Evening statistics
Today’s statistics as of 8:00 AM — # of cases worldwide: 2,938,729; # of deaths worldwide: 203,798; # of cases U.S.: 960,896; # of deaths U.S.: 54,265. The rate of acceleration in the incidence both of new cases and of deaths appears to be slowing down. China claims now to have only about 800 active cases remaining.
Today I shopped at Trader Joe’s. I’ve been avoiding this store for some time. It is popular and whenever I have passed it during walks in the area I have seen long lines stretching out onto the sidewalk, for it is currently very careful about the number of shoppers who can occupy it at one time. However, I discovered that the first hour of the morning that it is open is available to seniors only, so I tried it out. As with Safeway, it is relying on the honor system: some of the customers could by no stretch of the imagination be over 60 years old. But in general the experience was less disagreeable than I anticipated. Indeed it was surprisingly comfortable, for generally in the past it can get quite crowded and there is usually a bit of a wait in the lines for the cashiers. In the current setup I was able to select what I needed and then go directly to one of the cashiers without waiting at all. The store had most of the items I needed. However, there was one section that was devoted to baking needs, whose shelves were completely empty.
There is still no definite word on the status of Kim Jong-un. He may be dead; he may be in the throes of the coronavirus; he may be recuperating at a resort town – no one knows. Trump has said that the reports about Kim Jong-un’s illness are “fake news,” which is his favorite expression for any news item that he finds potentially inconvenient or embarrassing. Why he feels that he has a vested interest in Kim Jong-un’s continuing existence, is something of a mystery. But then everything about Trump is an enigma – or perhaps there really is no enigma at all, except to those who attempt to find some meaning in it.
Tony Spell, the Louisiana pastor who obstinately defies the mandate against large gatherings, has been placed under house arrest. He has had a monitor placed on his ankle. But I’m sure house arrest means nothing to him. For one thing, his church is a mere fifty yards from his house. A good long sentence in prison alongside some violent felons perhaps might chastise him effectively, but that is precisely what the state of Louisiana refuses to do.
Today’s statistics as of 9:00 PM — # of cases worldwide: 2,994,677; # of deaths worldwide: 206,988; # of cases U.S.: 987,160; # of deaths U.S.: 55,413.