The first winter snowfall – More political posturing in the two chambers – Evening statistics
A snowfall occurred overnight. In this area there has been no snow during either December or January. The snow, it is true, provided only a very light covering upon the grass, most of which melted in the gleaming sunshine by the end of the day; but as it is the first snowfall of the season, even though half of winter is nearly gone, one cannot be too exacting or fastidious under the circumstances.
I have no doubt that cries of global warming will be echoing throughout the social media in consequence. But I can remember the winter of 1975 in suburban DC, which had several periods of weather warm enough to feel more like early spring than winter. Leaves would unfurl and flowers bud prematurely, only to be halted by a frost coming upon the warmer days; then we would have another three or five days of warm weather, followed by another frost, and so it continued throughout the entire season – so that by the time the spring thaw had truly arrived, the plants were showing clear signs of exhaustion and the spring that followed was relatively colorless as a result of the diminished blooms. Global warming is certainly a valid concern, but it is a good more deal more gradual than most people appear to believe.
The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would end the COVID state of emergency immediately. The vote in favor of the motion was 229-197, precisely along party lines. This bill has little chance of passing in the Senate, which is Democrat-controlled and will almost certainly align with Biden’s intention, already announced, to end the emergency on May 11th. In other words, the House has made a thoroughly meaningless motion, and they are well-aware that it is meaningless. They are merely posturing, in order, as they believe, to win the approbation of their constituents; and sadly, they are probably right in their supposition that many voters will be impressed by such empty gestures.
Today’s statistics as of 8:00 PM – # of cases worldwide: 675,405,739; # of deaths worldwide: 6,763,892; # of cases U.S.: 104,249,672; # of deaths; U.S.: 1,133,521.