Activity along the Potomac Heritage Trail – The progressing change in leaf color – George Mason University – Possibility of a Biden landslide – Increasing signs of desperation in Trump’s campaign – Evening statistics
The Potomac Heritage Trail Association held a Zoom meeting today, which I attended. It was heartening to hear that work on the PHT and on other trails in Fairfax, Arlington, Prince William, and Loudoun counties is being pursued, despite the restrictions imposed by the virus. We discussed many areas of the trail that need attention, and in particular the segment of the PHT that runs between the Scott Nature Preserve and the junction with the Pimmit Run Trail. The PHT runs parallel with the Potomac River there, and the river has several creeks draining into it, which sometimes form gorges of significant depth and which in any case have to be crossed. Since I had completed the McLean loop just a couple of months ago, I was able to supply input about some of the more difficult of these: Scott Run and Pimmit Run in particular. Both of these had had rocks set in the streambed to aid people crossing on foot, but recent floods have swept the rocks away and it is now all but impossible to cross these dryshod. We plan to go on a fact-finding hike in the near future; the date at this point has not yet been set.
After the meeting I went out to enjoy the day. The dreary weather has passed and the skies are clear again, thereby allowing the foliage to be displayed in full glory. The leaves are swiftly changing color now, and several of the Japanese maples are beginning to show their characteristic shade between red and orange. The change in color is occurring somewhat later in the year than usual, on account of the length of this past summer, but now that we have been having a succession of warm days and cool nights, the leaf colors are not dulled, as at one point I feared they would be. We should be reaching peak coloration in a couple of weeks.
During my walk I visited the George Mason University campus, which is not far from where I live. It felt strangely deserted. Normally the campus is swarming with pedestrians, but now many of the classes are being held virtually and the number of students who are physically present has dwindled considerably. Even though in theory I applaud the decision to ensure the safety of students and teachers alike, the absence of people upon the usually bustling campus had a somewhat depressing effect.
There is not much to report about the upcoming election apart from the usual rhetoric on both sides; but the possibility of a Biden landslide is quietly emerging. Even in the rural areas that I have recently visited in both Maine and southwestern Virginia I noticed the occasional signs posted for the Biden-Harris slate. According to the polls, Biden is leading in most of the swing states: 7 points ahead in both Michigan and Pennsylvania, 4 points in Florida, 10 points in Wisconsin, and 8 points in Michigan. Biden is trying to reinforce that lead by making vigorous attempts to woo the senior citizens; and since Trump declared his intention to raid the Social Security funds not too long ago, this strategy appears promising.
Nonetheless the Democrats in general are displaying much less complacency than they did under similar circumstances four years ago – quite properly. Donald Trump is now a desperate man, and desperate man require close monitoring. He has just filed an emergency request with the Supreme Court to block the release of his tax returns, following a federal appeals court decision issued last week that Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance can enforce a subpoena for his business and tax records. He claimed before the 2016 election that he would release these returns, but has never done so; it has since been revealed that he paid a bare $750 in taxes during 2016 and 2017. In short, little beyond his current position in power stands in the way of a criminal prosecution followed by a long, stiff jail sentence. What maneuvers he will attempt between now and November 3rd is anyone’s guess; but a wounded boar is among the most dangerous of animals and it is not to be supposed that he will do less than his utmost to disrupt the election, either by fair means or foul.
Today’s statistics as of 8:00 PM – # of cases worldwide: 38,347,804; # of deaths worldwide: 1,090,179; # of cases U.S.: 8,089,929; # of deaths U.S.: 220,827. As noted earlier, our case incidence rate is nearly 2.5%, just under 1 in 40 for our population. The worldwide case incidence rate is just under 0.5%, or about 1 in 200 for the global population. The average American is thus five times as likely to contract the virus as the average inhabitant worldwide.