Morning statistics – Local Farmer’s Market – Bread-making with the starter – Financial statements – The President’s visit to Maine – Evening statistics
Today’s statistics as of 9:00 AM — # of cases worldwide: 6,880,373; # of deaths worldwide: 398,754; # of cases U.S.: 1,967,155; # of deaths U.S.: 111,405.
Today I went to the city’s Farmer’s Market, which is open for the first time this year. Normally it opens at the beginning of May, but the various restrictions have caused vendors to lose a month of their marketing season this year. The results were about what one might expect. The market did not have the bustle I have seen in previous years and only about half of the usual stalls had been set up, but there were some customers milling about and making purchases. The wagon is beginning to roll, although at this point not very swiftly or noisily.
Bread is now generally available again, and in addition my aunt has procured a supply of yeast for me. But the sourdough starter I developed when neither bread nor yeast were readily obtainable is still fermenting in the refrigerator and it needs to be used. So today I made some bread whose dough was baked in loaf pans instead of being formed into baguettes. It turned out very well indeed: firm crust, crumb with good web, and a hint of the “winy” taste sourdough should have, although not especially pronounced at this point. There were no problems either with kneading or getting the dough to rise, as there had been in previous experiments. There is still some of the starter left over, so I will keep it in the freezer to reserve it for use in case another emergency like the one that started two months ago arises.
My monthly financial statements arrived today. To my astonishment the portfolio values are very little lower than they were this past December, before the alarm about the virus began. I’m not complaining, of course, but I am surprised. I would have expected their net worth to be lower on account of the shrinkage in our GNP. I can only conclude that our stock market must be heavily over-valued.
It is slightly reassuring to know that a few Republicans, at least, are not entirely under the influence of the baneful miasmas emanating from Pennsylvania Avenue. President Trump is paying a visit to Maine to speak with fishermen and to tour Puritan Medical Products, which is currently manufacturing coronavirus test supplies. He was greeted by Democratic officials who would have opposed him under any circumstances and by numerous protestors at Bangor. However, Susan Collins, the Republican senior senator of the state, did not stand by his side or give him any support. She has, in fact, other things to think about. She is currently in Washington to attend various federal and non-federal events; and she has made it clear that she considers Trump’s visit to the state to be ill-timed and vexatious. She herself toured Puritan Medical Products a bare month ago, and she does not appear to wish to associate herself with Trump more than what is absolutely necessary. The forthcoming senatorial election in November is likely to be hotly contested; and she, being well-aware of Trump’s decreasing approval ratings and the aversion he has inspired among many of her constituents, seems to have concluded that Trump is more likely to be a liability rather than an asset to her campaign. There are a few similar murmurings among the Republican camp as Election Day draws nearer and nearer, and it just barely possible that Republican leaders are beginning to realize that unswerving allegiance to an egotistical, flighty, purposeless, treacherous flibbertigibbet is a bad idea.
Today’s statistics as of 8:00 PM — # of cases worldwide: 6,966,412; # of deaths worldwide: 401,607; # of cases U.S.: 1,988,461; # of deaths U.S.: 112,096. Our case count is now over 0.6%, or about one per every 160 of the population.