The Fort Duncan hike – The effect of COVID on the entertainment industry – The malevolently uncanny power of Donald Trump – State restrictions being lifted, perhaps prematurely – Evening statistics
We had a splendid hike today, one of the most enjoyable I’ve experienced in a long time. Starting from the NPS parking area close to Fort Duncan, we bushwhacked to the site of the fort, where the trench lines and the pits for storing ammunition are easy to discern. From there we went down one ridge and over another, in the course of which we stopped at an overlook with extensive views of the Potomac River and the bank slightly north of Harper’s Ferry. From there we descended to the C&O Canal, went along the canal path to the Maryland Heights Trail, went to the Maryland Heights overlook and back, and stopped for lunch close to the point where we descended. Finally we went along the canal path in the opposite direction, went on the remains of an old road to go through the shaft of an abandoned iron mine, and bushwhacked back to the parking area. The forest trees were fairly densely spaced and there were obstacles in the form of numerous tree limbs and branches on the ground, but there was relatively little undergrowth and few brambles; so that the bushwhacking portions were not unduly difficult. Part of the enjoyment I received came from the fact that I’ve never done this hike before, and it is always pleasant to embark on a new hike; but the views of the Potomac flowing rapidly with its wavelets brushing against the banks, and the scrambling through the mine shaft, with its nearly perpendicular rock walls on either side, were especially satisfying. There were twelve of us in all, a good number for a group that had to keep closely together so as not to get lost during the bushwhacks; and afterwards we partied as usual with drinks and snacks in the parking area. The parking area is rather limited and we nearly filled it with our cars, but it is also rather difficult to find and it does not abut any recognized trailhead; so we occupied it in undisputed possession.
Today is an anniversary of sorts. Last year on this date I went with RK to the Harris Theater at George Mason University to attend a concert by the King Singers. The memory is notable because I have not been able to attend any theater performance since that time. I mention this not in the spirit of feeble complaint, but as an indication of the fact that even though we have recovered some of the ground lost since the onset of the pandemic, we have a long way to go. From a strictly personal point of view, of course, the lack of opportunities to attend concerts and theater performances is merely an inconvenience. But for many people it is a source of livelihood: not only those whom we see on stage, such as actors, musicians, conductors, singers, and dancers, but also those who work behind the scenes, such as directors, producers, set designers, lighting crews, ticket office workers, and so on. It has been a hard year for them indeed, with their main source of income having dried up and with no immediate relief in sight. One friend of mine is a part-time clown, and before the pandemic started a substantial amount of his income came from performing at private parties. That sort of activity is out of the question now. Broadway has been closed since March 12, 2020. There is talk of allowing the shows to reopen in May, but October seems to be a more probable date. Live performers will thus be without visible means of support for more than a year and a half. My brother is one of the more fortunate ones: he is an animator, and most of the work he and his colleagues execute can be done comfortably via online meetings and at desktops from their homes.
If I sometimes seem to be obsessed with our former president, I have my reasons. The man himself at this point is of small account in his own right, but even in his defeat he manages to possess his strange power of depleting every vestige of manhood from his former associates. The latest example of this phenomenon is Mike Pence, who recently issued an op-ed criticizing the “irregularities” of the November election. Pence, it may be remembered, was one of the targets of the Capitol rioters because he would not interfere with the electoral process, even to the extent of their uttering death threats against him. After the riot occurred, those closest to him reported that he was deeply angered, particularly against Trump, who refused to call off the rioters’ actions and who spoke of him dismissively. Yet all of that appears to be forgotten a bare two months after the event, as he aligns himself solidly with the very same people who attempted to lynch him. If I lived in an earlier age, I probably would end up accusing Trump of witchcraft. If he were at all charismatic or possessed a winning personality I could better understand the grip he exerts upon his followers, however mistaken I might believe them to be. But his manners seem to me every bit as objectionable as his morals. Can someone explain to me why so many respectable men and women treat him with the craven subservience of eunuchs in the court of an Oriental potentate?
More states are lifting restrictions, despite the warnings of health authorities such as Fauci. Capacity limits on businesses in Arizona are abolished, although masks are still required. South Carolina’s mask mandate in government buildings has been lifted, although masking in restaurants is still required. California will allow amusement parks, outdoor sports, and live events at stadiums to restart April 1, with reduced capacity and mandatory masks. New York City now has limited indoor dining, while Connecticut’s capacity limits on restaurants, offices, and gyms will end this month. We seem to be repeating the mistake of the previous summer. The virus had appeared to reach a plateau in June; and instead of consolidating and waiting for a definite reverse trend, governors across the nation eased restrictions, at which point the rate of infection promptly increased. The recent figures are certainly encouraging, but they don’t seem to justify the optimism that some state governors are displaying. For instance, over the past seven days the average number of new cases was about 61,000, the lowest amount since October. But it is still the same as the rate of increase during the summer of 2020 at its peak. Again, the number of new deaths has been falling steadily. But it is still about 2,000 per day.
Today’s statistics as of 8:00 PM – # of cases worldwide: 117,067,001; # of deaths worldwide: 2,599,176; # of cases U.S.: 29,653,190; # of deaths; U.S.: 537,118. The number of new cases here was 14% of the number of new cases worldwide, and the number of deaths was 19% of deaths worldwide, so I suppose that’s an improvement.