The latest Trump ally, Roger Stone, escapes jail time because Trump commutes his jail time. Commutes mean he admits no crime, in contrast with a pardon that retains guilt, although he was convicted He does remain convicted, however.
It almost makes you sorry for the few that have served or are serving jail time..
Sunday, July 12, 2020
Saturday, July 11, 2020
CHEATING HIS WAY THROUGH LIFE
So in college, Donald Trump had his sister do his homework and hired someone to take his exams. How about high school? I can see how he could get someone to do his homework. but I think it is harder to get someone to do your exams unless he hired someone to attend school for him. I suspect that is not out of the question. I don't know about grade school. I suspect that he got someone to read him his homework. Mot classes are pretty packed, and he may have done " over the shoulder" cheating on exams.
It should come to no surprise, then that he would even cheat on getting elected as president.
Recall his invitation to the Russians to find Hillary's 30,000 missing emails. The Russians could well have thought this was an invitation to get involved in the election and help him out.
Even then the deciding factor was the head of the FBI, James Comey, bring up the e-mails again shortly before the election. There is no reason to believe that Comey had been bought off, so this was just a piece of luck.
By cheating and design, Donald Trump became president, and we have a mentally ill president who can hardly read.
It should come to no surprise, then that he would even cheat on getting elected as president.
Recall his invitation to the Russians to find Hillary's 30,000 missing emails. The Russians could well have thought this was an invitation to get involved in the election and help him out.
Even then the deciding factor was the head of the FBI, James Comey, bring up the e-mails again shortly before the election. There is no reason to believe that Comey had been bought off, so this was just a piece of luck.
By cheating and design, Donald Trump became president, and we have a mentally ill president who can hardly read.
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
OUR PRESIDENT IS FUNCTIONALLY ILLITERATE
I know that our president is now functionally illiterate and who cannot seem to read even a page, but wondered how he got through college that way. The answer is that he cheated. His lessons were read to him and his sister did his homework. He paid someone to take his exams. An imposter would actually go into an exam room and take his tests. I guess class sizes were large enough that his face might not be recognized.
This concept comes from a revelatory book by his only niece Mary Trump, ‘Too Much and Never Enough." who is a clinical psychologist.
This concept comes from a revelatory book by his only niece Mary Trump, ‘Too Much and Never Enough." who is a clinical psychologist.
Sunday, July 5, 2020
OUT OF THE LOOP
The first politician I heard say he was "out of the loop" was George H.S. Bush.* During the Reagan administration, there was a program called the "Iran-Contra" affair. This affair illegally planned to ship arms to Iran even though such transactions were embargoed.** It occurred during the second term of Ronald Reagan when Bush was the vice president.
Well, now the Trump administration has gotten into the act over the Russians paying Taliban members to kill American soldiers. Trump claims he was never briefed on this scandal though, clearly, he was.***
So President Trump is the latest politician to claiming he was "out of the loop."
* https://www.npr.org/2018/12/06/674079779/george-h-w-bushs-mixed-legacy-in-a-reagan-era-scandal
** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Contra_affai
*** https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-on-defensive-over-reports-russia-paid-bounties-for-killing-u-s-troops/ar-BB166A9qr
Well, now the Trump administration has gotten into the act over the Russians paying Taliban members to kill American soldiers. Trump claims he was never briefed on this scandal though, clearly, he was.***
So President Trump is the latest politician to claiming he was "out of the loop."
* https://www.npr.org/2018/12/06/674079779/george-h-w-bushs-mixed-legacy-in-a-reagan-era-scandal
** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Contra_affai
*** https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-on-defensive-over-reports-russia-paid-bounties-for-killing-u-s-troops/ar-BB166A9qr
Saturday, June 27, 2020
AT LEAST THEY SPENT SOME TIME IN JAIL
Among all the crooks in the Trump organization, only Paul Manafort and Michael Cohn have spent any time in jail. Both of these I believe are home under house arrest because of the coronavirus.
Roger Stone and Michael Flynn have never served any jail time.
Papadopoulos, 31, spent 10 days in jail which was his sentence.
Apparently, Rick Gates spent some weekends in jail, but he too has been released because of the coronavirus.
Roger Stone and Michael Flynn have never served any jail time.
Papadopoulos, 31, spent 10 days in jail which was his sentence.
Apparently, Rick Gates spent some weekends in jail, but he too has been released because of the coronavirus.
Sunday, June 21, 2020
CORONAVIRUS
Some epidemiologists say that the Coronavirus will stay around until 60-70% of Americans have had it, at which point we will have developed "herd" immunity.
If so, we are only 10% of the way there ( about 2 million cases whereas the U.S. population is about 330 million. Furthermore, they say that the coronavirus will not be seasonal like the flue. It is more like wildfire.
Since I am in my 90th year, the outlook isn't good for me to get out of "jail." It is a very nice jail, but very confining. I do get to go to the GP and Dentist, but that is about it, though some people go out to their bank and perhaps other places.
But things on the outside are only partially open. One of my favorite restaurants is Beefeaters and they are open in Pinehurst, NC. Maybe I can snake a dinner?
If so, we are only 10% of the way there ( about 2 million cases whereas the U.S. population is about 330 million. Furthermore, they say that the coronavirus will not be seasonal like the flue. It is more like wildfire.
Since I am in my 90th year, the outlook isn't good for me to get out of "jail." It is a very nice jail, but very confining. I do get to go to the GP and Dentist, but that is about it, though some people go out to their bank and perhaps other places.
But things on the outside are only partially open. One of my favorite restaurants is Beefeaters and they are open in Pinehurst, NC. Maybe I can snake a dinner?
Saturday, June 20, 2020
JOHN BOLTON
I've never been a fan of John Bolton. He was what was called a Neo-Con (New Conservative). I think he never saw a war he didn't like and wanted regime change in Vietnam Iran, Syria, Libya, Venezuela, Cuba, Yemen, and North Korea* He didn't like international organizations such as the UN. I was afraid when he joined Trump's administration, we would go to war with Syria. Of course, we didn't which is one mark for the Trump administration.
For all I know, he is as big a liar as Trump, but it looks like his book "The Room Where It Happened: A Memoir" will be published on Tuesday (June 23, 2020).
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bolton
For all I know, he is as big a liar as Trump, but it looks like his book "The Room Where It Happened: A Memoir" will be published on Tuesday (June 23, 2020).
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bolton
Friday, June 19, 2020
CHOKE HOLD
I agree that the chokehold is a dangerous technique. I have never had a strong arm strength even though I used to lift weights. Three times in my life, I've had bullies come after me. I would get them turned so their back was against my left hip, I would then lift them so their feet were off the ground by bending the opposite direction, and I would give them the chokehold. On two of them, the bully said that they gave up. On the third, a friend was there and said the bully's face was turning blue so I released him. The bullies never attacked me again.
I guess I easily could have killed these bullies, but I don't know what would have happened if I didn't use the chokehold.
I guess I easily could have killed these bullies, but I don't know what would have happened if I didn't use the chokehold.
I'M BACK
Unfortunately, I had a bout of A-Fib and spent 5 days in the hospital. Everything is back to "normal," but I frail. I believe I am slowly recording and strengthening.
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
FEDERAL AND STATE AID
Federal Aid So far as I know, the SARS COVAD-19 problem is the first in which the Federal government has been involved.
After the famous San Francisco Earthquake, the Federal Government gave no money to the city for rebuilding. Eisenhower had a hard time getting the Interstate road program through congress until he said it was for military defense purposes
.
The item appealed to for the Federal Government to get involved in state problems is called the "Interstate Commerce" Clause [U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8)].
The Federal Government getting involved in natural disasters in a state is relatively recent - 1979: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created under President Jimmy Carter by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders on April 1, 1979.
Today government involvement in natural disasters is common. The governor of the state has to declare a Natural Disaster to start legislation.
Requests for Federal Aid for natural disasters is not always given. Recent examples involve flooding in Nebraska in 2020 where the damage was not deemed sufficient to obtain Federal Relief. The sum requested for one flooding was $3 million where it was felt that the state should be able to handle it.
I worked for the Federal government for 34 years and it was very difficult to get Federal research money for many disasters. Landslides, for example, were considered a local problem and not available for Federal Aid and therefore research. Earthquake scientists were able to show that earthquakes were not just a local problem but an interstate problem so earthquakes got research money.
Volcanic eruptions seem to be an exception. Damage done by the eruption of Kilauea Volcano in the Big Island of Hawaii got Federal-aid even though it is a local problem, but it is complicated because FEMA tried to get its money back from some individuals:
The 100-plus-day eruption covered more than 13.7 square miles in molten rock, destroyed 716 residential structures and displaced more than 3,000 people, according to the county’s website*
State Aid State Aid seems very uneven whether aid is given and is left up to each state. Thus we have some states that never did shut down during the Sars Coronavirus Pandemic although Mayors may have begged for it. Many states refused the increased Medicaid aid of Obama. Still, states where state aid has been refused, seem to have approval by voters in the state.
* https://www.civilbeat.org/2019/06/big-island-fema-wants-its-money-back-for-aid-to-volcano-victims/
After the famous San Francisco Earthquake, the Federal Government gave no money to the city for rebuilding. Eisenhower had a hard time getting the Interstate road program through congress until he said it was for military defense purposes
.
The item appealed to for the Federal Government to get involved in state problems is called the "Interstate Commerce" Clause [U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8)].
The Federal Government getting involved in natural disasters in a state is relatively recent - 1979: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created under President Jimmy Carter by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders on April 1, 1979.
Today government involvement in natural disasters is common. The governor of the state has to declare a Natural Disaster to start legislation.
Requests for Federal Aid for natural disasters is not always given. Recent examples involve flooding in Nebraska in 2020 where the damage was not deemed sufficient to obtain Federal Relief. The sum requested for one flooding was $3 million where it was felt that the state should be able to handle it.
I worked for the Federal government for 34 years and it was very difficult to get Federal research money for many disasters. Landslides, for example, were considered a local problem and not available for Federal Aid and therefore research. Earthquake scientists were able to show that earthquakes were not just a local problem but an interstate problem so earthquakes got research money.
Volcanic eruptions seem to be an exception. Damage done by the eruption of Kilauea Volcano in the Big Island of Hawaii got Federal-aid even though it is a local problem, but it is complicated because FEMA tried to get its money back from some individuals:
The 100-plus-day eruption covered more than 13.7 square miles in molten rock, destroyed 716 residential structures and displaced more than 3,000 people, according to the county’s website*
State Aid State Aid seems very uneven whether aid is given and is left up to each state. Thus we have some states that never did shut down during the Sars Coronavirus Pandemic although Mayors may have begged for it. Many states refused the increased Medicaid aid of Obama. Still, states where state aid has been refused, seem to have approval by voters in the state.
* https://www.civilbeat.org/2019/06/big-island-fema-wants-its-money-back-for-aid-to-volcano-victims/
Saturday, May 23, 2020
REAL MEN DO NOT WEAR FACE MASKS
I suppose in this time of politicalization, even wearing masks to prevent getting and given the coronavirus disease to others is politics.
Not long ago, there were the red straws with the president's name on them.* You got 10 of these for $15 or $1.5 ea when bendable compostable straws were about $0.9 ex:.
The straws as advertised are nine inches long and bright red — the same shade as Trump’s ubiquitous “Make America Great Again” baseball caps — and they’re branded with a laser-engraved “TRUMP” on one end. The description touts the straws as being reusable, recyclable, BPA-free and made in America.**
There were conservatives who wrote that they got the straws to stick it to liberals. Actually, I have nothing against people buying packets of red straws at a highly inflated price as a souvenir, but, if they are bought to stick it to liberals, I do wonder who actually is getting stuck?
Now we have it with masks. It turns out that many conservatives do not wear masks when they are supposed to as a statement against liberals. Well, I actually have nothing against people not wearing masks when they are supposed to. They are just playing probabilities that even if they do not wear a mask to a big event, they will not get coronavirus even if others do because the number who will get the disease is a fraction of the group. But there is a small probability that they will become infected and then infect others that is pretty selfish, I think. But hey say this is some sort of statement against those "commie" liberals who cares about others getting infected?
Incidentally, I'm surprised that you apparently cannot buy red masks with Trump printed on them to "stick it" to liberals to prevent coronavirus spread. Perhaps it is felt that this would be too soft a "stick" and would actually want to do some good. Can't have that. Cowboy, take off the sissy face mask.
* http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2019/07/conservative-and-liberal-straws.html
** https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/19/trump-2020-campaign-selling-10-plastic-straws-for-15.html
Not long ago, there were the red straws with the president's name on them.* You got 10 of these for $15 or $1.5 ea when bendable compostable straws were about $0.9 ex:.
The straws as advertised are nine inches long and bright red — the same shade as Trump’s ubiquitous “Make America Great Again” baseball caps — and they’re branded with a laser-engraved “TRUMP” on one end. The description touts the straws as being reusable, recyclable, BPA-free and made in America.**
There were conservatives who wrote that they got the straws to stick it to liberals. Actually, I have nothing against people buying packets of red straws at a highly inflated price as a souvenir, but, if they are bought to stick it to liberals, I do wonder who actually is getting stuck?
Now we have it with masks. It turns out that many conservatives do not wear masks when they are supposed to as a statement against liberals. Well, I actually have nothing against people not wearing masks when they are supposed to. They are just playing probabilities that even if they do not wear a mask to a big event, they will not get coronavirus even if others do because the number who will get the disease is a fraction of the group. But there is a small probability that they will become infected and then infect others that is pretty selfish, I think. But hey say this is some sort of statement against those "commie" liberals who cares about others getting infected?
Incidentally, I'm surprised that you apparently cannot buy red masks with Trump printed on them to "stick it" to liberals to prevent coronavirus spread. Perhaps it is felt that this would be too soft a "stick" and would actually want to do some good. Can't have that. Cowboy, take off the sissy face mask.
* http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2019/07/conservative-and-liberal-straws.html
** https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/19/trump-2020-campaign-selling-10-plastic-straws-for-15.html
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
OK, I DO HOPE THE ECONOMY STAYS BAD
President Trump says “I think some people don’t want it [economy] really to come back, for political reasons, which is sick,” Trump continued, offering no evidence to support his claim. “But the people — the real people, the people that want this country to be great, and great again — we can say they want to get back.”*
OK, I confess. I'm one of those who would like to see unemployment increase on election day, but I never wished for anything like the coronavirus debacle. President Trump has poor instincts and he seemingly will take the wrong turn every time.
Things are in a terrible mess because of President Trump's moves in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. My worry is that it is all happening too soon and that all these lives being lost are wasted. But I can hope, I guess, that a crushed economy will be more visible and not better by election day.
Trump has no empathy and people dying do not bother him. That is why he could walk away from our Kurdish Allies and leave them to be slaughtered by the Turks. An increased death total from coronavirus will not bother him at all.
The politician most on top of the coronavirus matter has been Joe Biden who was worrying about coronavirus as far aback January 27, 2020.**
Trump’s demonstrated failures of judgment and his repeated rejection of science make him the worst possible person to lead our country through a global health challenge.
The outbreak of a new coronavirus, which has already infected more than 2,700 people and killed over 80 in China, will get worse before it gets better. Cases have been confirmed in a dozen countries, with at least five in the United States. There will likely be more.**
While President Trump played nice tunes in his tweets, not all Republicans agreed:
Peter Navarro, Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, wrote in a memorandum addressed to President Trump:
"The lack of immune protection or an existing cure or vaccine would leave Americans defenseless in the case of a full-blown coronavirus outbreak on U.S. soil. This lack of protection elevates the risk of the coronavirus evolving into a full-blown pandemic, imperiling the lives of millions of Americans."***
Then there is California, America's most populous state, that closed down in mid-March!
California's 40 million residents should stay home indefinitely and venture outside only for essential jobs, errands and some exercise, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday, warning that the coronavirus threatens to overwhelm the state's medical system.****
..............................................................
He said the state has taken over a 357-bed bankrupt hospital in the San Francisco Bay Area, soon will announce the purchase of a similarly sized hospital in Southern California and may use dormitories at the state's public colleges and universities.****
In a separate address published March 17, Gavin Newsome said: "Asking our restaurants to close down for the moment, provide takeout if they wish, and operate in that frame. That will focus our alignment across the state of California, and we believe it’s necessary."****
Because of these actions, the number of deaths from COVAD-19 in California puts them in 5th place in the U.S. in spite of its being the most populous state.
CONCLUSIONS: So we will give an A+'s to a Democratic Presidential candidate(Joe Biden) in January, an A to Governor of America's most populous state (Gavin Newsome) in mid-March, and.an A- to the Republican Director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy (Peter Navarro) in early April.
Though late to the party of recognizing there is a problem, President Trump eventually did do some things so I give him a D.
* https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/08/trump-says-democrats-dont-want-economy-to-recover-244812
** Joe Biden, "Trump Is Worst Possible Leader to Deal with Coronavirus Outbreak," usatoday.com, Jan. 27, 2020
*** Maggie Haberman, "Trade Adviser Warned White House in January of Risks of a Pandemic," nytimes.com, Apr. 6, 2020
****https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/governor-projects-56-of-californians-may-be-infected-with-coronavirus-in-next-8-weeks/2289281/
https://la.eater.com/2020/3/17/21183590/california-governor-gavin-newsom-shut-down-covid-19-coronavirus-statewide-dine-in-restaurants
OK, I confess. I'm one of those who would like to see unemployment increase on election day, but I never wished for anything like the coronavirus debacle. President Trump has poor instincts and he seemingly will take the wrong turn every time.
Things are in a terrible mess because of President Trump's moves in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. My worry is that it is all happening too soon and that all these lives being lost are wasted. But I can hope, I guess, that a crushed economy will be more visible and not better by election day.
Trump has no empathy and people dying do not bother him. That is why he could walk away from our Kurdish Allies and leave them to be slaughtered by the Turks. An increased death total from coronavirus will not bother him at all.
The politician most on top of the coronavirus matter has been Joe Biden who was worrying about coronavirus as far aback January 27, 2020.**
Trump’s demonstrated failures of judgment and his repeated rejection of science make him the worst possible person to lead our country through a global health challenge.
The outbreak of a new coronavirus, which has already infected more than 2,700 people and killed over 80 in China, will get worse before it gets better. Cases have been confirmed in a dozen countries, with at least five in the United States. There will likely be more.**
While President Trump played nice tunes in his tweets, not all Republicans agreed:
Peter Navarro, Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, wrote in a memorandum addressed to President Trump:
"The lack of immune protection or an existing cure or vaccine would leave Americans defenseless in the case of a full-blown coronavirus outbreak on U.S. soil. This lack of protection elevates the risk of the coronavirus evolving into a full-blown pandemic, imperiling the lives of millions of Americans."***
Then there is California, America's most populous state, that closed down in mid-March!
California's 40 million residents should stay home indefinitely and venture outside only for essential jobs, errands and some exercise, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday, warning that the coronavirus threatens to overwhelm the state's medical system.****
..............................................................
He said the state has taken over a 357-bed bankrupt hospital in the San Francisco Bay Area, soon will announce the purchase of a similarly sized hospital in Southern California and may use dormitories at the state's public colleges and universities.****
In a separate address published March 17, Gavin Newsome said: "Asking our restaurants to close down for the moment, provide takeout if they wish, and operate in that frame. That will focus our alignment across the state of California, and we believe it’s necessary."****
Because of these actions, the number of deaths from COVAD-19 in California puts them in 5th place in the U.S. in spite of its being the most populous state.
CONCLUSIONS: So we will give an A+'s to a Democratic Presidential candidate(Joe Biden) in January, an A to Governor of America's most populous state (Gavin Newsome) in mid-March, and.an A- to the Republican Director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy (Peter Navarro) in early April.
Though late to the party of recognizing there is a problem, President Trump eventually did do some things so I give him a D.
* https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/08/trump-says-democrats-dont-want-economy-to-recover-244812
** Joe Biden, "Trump Is Worst Possible Leader to Deal with Coronavirus Outbreak," usatoday.com, Jan. 27, 2020
*** Maggie Haberman, "Trade Adviser Warned White House in January of Risks of a Pandemic," nytimes.com, Apr. 6, 2020
****https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/governor-projects-56-of-californians-may-be-infected-with-coronavirus-in-next-8-weeks/2289281/
https://la.eater.com/2020/3/17/21183590/california-governor-gavin-newsom-shut-down-covid-19-coronavirus-statewide-dine-in-restaurants
Sunday, May 17, 2020
DOES VICE-PRESIDENT PENCE HAVE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE?
There was this curious announcement that Vice President Pence and President Trump would be keeping their distance from each other for a while. The last time I saw a picture of Mike Pence he was wearing a mask. So far as I know of, the last time Mike Pence has been seen in public was May 7th.
Supposedly Pence has been tested for coronavirus with a negative result.
Just what is the Vice President doing with his time if he is not ill?
Supposedly Pence has been tested for coronavirus with a negative result.
Just what is the Vice President doing with his time if he is not ill?
Thursday, May 7, 2020
INFRASTRUCTURE
There are 32 million people out of work now. It would be a good time to have a major infrastructure program as costs would be inexpensive. Well, there is talk about a $2 trillion infrastructure bill,* but Republicans don't do infrastructure** so my guess is that nothing will become of it. In this age of coronavirus, could a major infrastructure program be done safely? But safety seems to be disappearing among the most vocal Republicans.
Here is an account of Penn Station in New York City.***
Apparently, most deaths are occurring among meatpackers, jails, and homes for seniors
As of this date (May 9, 2020, we have no virus cases that we know about.
* https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/30/schumer-trump-democrats-agreed-2-trillion-needed-for-infrastructure.html
** https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/30/koch-network-slams-2-trillion-infrastructure-cost-agreement-between-trump-democrats.html
*** https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2019/11/29/penn-station-robert-caro-073564
Here is an account of Penn Station in New York City.***
Apparently, most deaths are occurring among meatpackers, jails, and homes for seniors
As of this date (May 9, 2020, we have no virus cases that we know about.
* https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/30/schumer-trump-democrats-agreed-2-trillion-needed-for-infrastructure.html
** https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/30/koch-network-slams-2-trillion-infrastructure-cost-agreement-between-trump-democrats.html
*** https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2019/11/29/penn-station-robert-caro-073564
Friday, May 1, 2020
EIGHTY-NINE YEARS ON THIS PLANET (Biographical)
Today April 24th is my 89th birthday which means that I have been out of my mother's womb for 89 yrs., so I have begun my 90th year of living. How is it?
As for me, I'm doing all right. I say I am still kicking, just not very high. Though I might walk around my apartment at Penick Village continuing care facility, I am spending more and more time in an electric wheelchair as a result of arthritis in my spine and always in it if I leave the apartment. The wheelchair gives me great mobility, and I can tour the halls of my large apartment building without a problem to see the art on the hall walls (Note: This does not count as exercise.). I do have some problems with concentration and sometimes I have to go back and reread a passage or wind back the TV program to clarify things, other times I just move on. I do some simple cooking such as bacon, sausage, toast, and egg breakfast. In addition, I have a lady who comes in to help me twice a week for 2 hrs each and sometimes does some shopping.
The biggest news every day regards what is called novel coronavirus or COVAD-19 that is in the 2003 SARS family and is very contagious. Often the coronavirus will consume an entire news program. In the United States, there are 822,000 official cases of infection and 45,494 official deaths (From February 29 through April 22nd). Both of these numbers are actually minimums as they are for hospitalization only and do not include estimates of those who stay at home and die at home or at retirement centers. The figures could easily be double those reported. We are not getting our weekly house cleaning so a couple of weeks ago, I bought a vacuum cleaner.
In North Carolina where I live, the number of cases of the novel coronavirus cases has topped 7,000 (7,220), and the number of deaths is 242 and counting, of course.
We have been confined to our apartments for about a month We walk outside and can go to patios outside the building in small groups if we stay 6 ft apart and wear masks. In reality, most of us drink wine while visiting which is difficult to do while wearing a mask. Last Sunday I joined two different groups by invitation so I had a lot of social life for me. And two days later I visited the Christensens.
In the outside world, everything is locked down right now to prevent virus infections from getting any worse. All professional sports have been canceled for the year or delayed. No restaurants are open or barbershops and beauty salons, or movie theaters. With me, the lack of beauty shops will become a problem at some point. Because I have rods in my back, I cannot trim my own toenails so I will need a Pedicure. I had a dentist's appointment in mid-May [Cancelled for a second time.] and a Doctor's appointment at the end of May.
President Trump has said we are at war, though he will take no responsibility for anything. It does feel like war because the store shelves carrying toilet paper are empty and you can't buy any hand sanitizer (alcoholic), among other things. [Note added May 8th: You still cannot buy these things.]
Many but not all Republicans have become tired of the lockdown and have taken to demonstrations to open things up and they are supported by the President. The Attorney General is getting into the act as mandatory lockdown is in opposition to freedom as mentioned in the constitution so they would like to just let the virus rip through the populace and open businesses. They also point out that the number of expected deaths is not that different from automobile deaths, and we tolerate those. I could add death from guns that are about 30,000 per year. But since these comments, the coronavirus deaths have blown by these other figures. [Added May 8th, 2020: minimum deaths are now 76,020 for the U.S. and counting so you can see how rapidly things are adding up.]
There are some things I feel are strange. I think this period would be a great opportunity for terrorists to attack, but they seem to be quiet. Maybe terrorists feel the coronavirus is terror enough. In the previous administration (Obama) there was an Ebola outbreak. The American public went bonkers and sure they were going to die, but there is an Ebola outbreak of more than 2,000 infections going on in the Democratic Republic of The Congo in Africa at this time, and it barely gets mentioned. I haven't heard of any cases getting to the U.S., however.
As for me, I'm doing all right. I say I am still kicking, just not very high. Though I might walk around my apartment at Penick Village continuing care facility, I am spending more and more time in an electric wheelchair as a result of arthritis in my spine and always in it if I leave the apartment. The wheelchair gives me great mobility, and I can tour the halls of my large apartment building without a problem to see the art on the hall walls (Note: This does not count as exercise.). I do have some problems with concentration and sometimes I have to go back and reread a passage or wind back the TV program to clarify things, other times I just move on. I do some simple cooking such as bacon, sausage, toast, and egg breakfast. In addition, I have a lady who comes in to help me twice a week for 2 hrs each and sometimes does some shopping.
The biggest news every day regards what is called novel coronavirus or COVAD-19 that is in the 2003 SARS family and is very contagious. Often the coronavirus will consume an entire news program. In the United States, there are 822,000 official cases of infection and 45,494 official deaths (From February 29 through April 22nd). Both of these numbers are actually minimums as they are for hospitalization only and do not include estimates of those who stay at home and die at home or at retirement centers. The figures could easily be double those reported. We are not getting our weekly house cleaning so a couple of weeks ago, I bought a vacuum cleaner.
In North Carolina where I live, the number of cases of the novel coronavirus cases has topped 7,000 (7,220), and the number of deaths is 242 and counting, of course.
We have been confined to our apartments for about a month We walk outside and can go to patios outside the building in small groups if we stay 6 ft apart and wear masks. In reality, most of us drink wine while visiting which is difficult to do while wearing a mask. Last Sunday I joined two different groups by invitation so I had a lot of social life for me. And two days later I visited the Christensens.
In the outside world, everything is locked down right now to prevent virus infections from getting any worse. All professional sports have been canceled for the year or delayed. No restaurants are open or barbershops and beauty salons, or movie theaters. With me, the lack of beauty shops will become a problem at some point. Because I have rods in my back, I cannot trim my own toenails so I will need a Pedicure. I had a dentist's appointment in mid-May [Cancelled for a second time.] and a Doctor's appointment at the end of May.
President Trump has said we are at war, though he will take no responsibility for anything. It does feel like war because the store shelves carrying toilet paper are empty and you can't buy any hand sanitizer (alcoholic), among other things. [Note added May 8th: You still cannot buy these things.]
Many but not all Republicans have become tired of the lockdown and have taken to demonstrations to open things up and they are supported by the President. The Attorney General is getting into the act as mandatory lockdown is in opposition to freedom as mentioned in the constitution so they would like to just let the virus rip through the populace and open businesses. They also point out that the number of expected deaths is not that different from automobile deaths, and we tolerate those. I could add death from guns that are about 30,000 per year. But since these comments, the coronavirus deaths have blown by these other figures. [Added May 8th, 2020: minimum deaths are now 76,020 for the U.S. and counting so you can see how rapidly things are adding up.]
There are some things I feel are strange. I think this period would be a great opportunity for terrorists to attack, but they seem to be quiet. Maybe terrorists feel the coronavirus is terror enough. In the previous administration (Obama) there was an Ebola outbreak. The American public went bonkers and sure they were going to die, but there is an Ebola outbreak of more than 2,000 infections going on in the Democratic Republic of The Congo in Africa at this time, and it barely gets mentioned. I haven't heard of any cases getting to the U.S., however.
Thursday, April 30, 2020
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS AND CORONOVIRUS
Even if pro-sports should open to an empty stadium, some sports are more prone to coronavirus than others. But there are places where payers get in close proximity with other members, such as in rooming (two to a room) and meals. Nearly all pro-sports events have been canceled.
Perhaps the lest safe sport is professional Football. You not only have 22 players on the field, briefly smashing into each other but also a bunch of players and assistants sitting on benches, currently close together. I suppose the benches could be extended but it would be very hard for players even on the bench not to pass close to others. As of this writing, several pro-football players and others are said to have coronavirus.*
Maybe next is professional basketball. Fewer players are involved than in pro-football, but there still are 10 players on the court in close proximity to each other. And then there is the bench problem again though small than for football. Many pro-basketball plays have acquired coronavirus.*
Hockey has seen quite a few cases of coronavirus. One team had as many as 7 players and other members of the 52 member traveling team come down with coronavirus.* Hockey revels in being a contact sport.*
Minor league baseball in the U.S. has seen quite a few players acquire coronavirus (season not canceled), but only one major leaguer (that canceled the preseason). Also, players from the Nippon League (Japan) have gotten coronavirus also. Baseball has 9 players on the field and one or more opponents plus three umpires at a time. There is not a lot of contact between players such as for football and basketball, but both sides use the same ball and, of course, there is the bench problem as well. The main points of contact or proximity are the hitter, catcher, and plate umpire. I don't know how you can cure that though the umpire may be able to move back some. There can also be contract between a runner and the defenseman on the bases. sometimes going after a flyball, players will collide at least get close together.*
Though professional boxing has only two opponents there are also the cut man and the coach plus a referee in the ring at times., there is a lot of contact between them, such as clinching. There is a boxer who acquired coronavirus.*
One of the safest sports should be professional golf what with only four people involved (a golfer and the caddy), but the golfer does get close to the caddy. I suppose the caddy might move away when the golfer comes to select a club. If the clubs have been sanitized, there should be little problem. It should be easy for the golfers to remain six feet apart. Their hands do get into the cup, however, that may be the weak point. One golfer has acquired the coronavirus.*
Another safe professional sport would be tennis single, though both players touch the tennis ball which is the weak spot.*
* https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2020-03-12/coronavirus-athletes-and-sports-figures-who-have-tested-positive
Perhaps the lest safe sport is professional Football. You not only have 22 players on the field, briefly smashing into each other but also a bunch of players and assistants sitting on benches, currently close together. I suppose the benches could be extended but it would be very hard for players even on the bench not to pass close to others. As of this writing, several pro-football players and others are said to have coronavirus.*
Maybe next is professional basketball. Fewer players are involved than in pro-football, but there still are 10 players on the court in close proximity to each other. And then there is the bench problem again though small than for football. Many pro-basketball plays have acquired coronavirus.*
Hockey has seen quite a few cases of coronavirus. One team had as many as 7 players and other members of the 52 member traveling team come down with coronavirus.* Hockey revels in being a contact sport.*
Minor league baseball in the U.S. has seen quite a few players acquire coronavirus (season not canceled), but only one major leaguer (that canceled the preseason). Also, players from the Nippon League (Japan) have gotten coronavirus also. Baseball has 9 players on the field and one or more opponents plus three umpires at a time. There is not a lot of contact between players such as for football and basketball, but both sides use the same ball and, of course, there is the bench problem as well. The main points of contact or proximity are the hitter, catcher, and plate umpire. I don't know how you can cure that though the umpire may be able to move back some. There can also be contract between a runner and the defenseman on the bases. sometimes going after a flyball, players will collide at least get close together.*
Though professional boxing has only two opponents there are also the cut man and the coach plus a referee in the ring at times., there is a lot of contact between them, such as clinching. There is a boxer who acquired coronavirus.*
One of the safest sports should be professional golf what with only four people involved (a golfer and the caddy), but the golfer does get close to the caddy. I suppose the caddy might move away when the golfer comes to select a club. If the clubs have been sanitized, there should be little problem. It should be easy for the golfers to remain six feet apart. Their hands do get into the cup, however, that may be the weak point. One golfer has acquired the coronavirus.*
Another safe professional sport would be tennis single, though both players touch the tennis ball which is the weak spot.*
* https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2020-03-12/coronavirus-athletes-and-sports-figures-who-have-tested-positive
Monday, April 20, 2020
CONFESSIONS OF A LIFE-LONG PESSIMIST (Biographical)
I have been a pessimist from early life. I recall when I was six year's old in 1937, I worried about the Chinese which I had been told in Sunday school are nice people and hard workers, carrying heavy loads upon their heads.* Gen. Chiang Kai-shek was already a hero. The Japanese were threatening to invade China, there had already been skirmishes, and I didn't want to hear the news. My father in the pre-TV age was going to turn the news on the radio and I got up to leave. He asked me why I was leaving so I told him I was afraid to hear news about China. He assured me there wouldn't be any, but, as it turned out, there was and I ran screaming from the room. I was worried that the Japanese would invade us also and that they might be small in stature but were supermen. This was four years before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Though the Japanese never were able to completely take China, my pessimistic nature was already at hand at the age of six.
I do admit that most of my memories are of a rather pleasant early childhood in the 1930s when gasoline was 25 cents/gallon or five gallons for a dollar, but, more importantly to me, candy bars were a nickel or three for a dime. My mother had an artistic temperament so there were times with a lot of yelling and spanking over some indiscretions that were real or imagined. I had some speaking problems, mainly pronouncing "Rs" as "Ws", for example, I would pronounce "car" as "cow." I had trouble memorizing the multiplication tables, particularly so with the times 7s, a defect that was cured with flashcards and daily exercises with them. I became a sickly child in the later 1930s and ran through all the communicable diseases one after the other, it seemed (mumps, measles, whooping cough, chickenpox). At that time, you were quarantined for four to six weeks each so I missed a lot of school in the early grades. I wasn't held back a year because it was judged that I was working up to my abilities (We didn't have As and Bs, etc).
Finally, however, in the 4th grade, I missed only 4 half days of school in the entire school year. I wasn't held back a grade so I could start playing catch up. I was a terrible daydreamer and would dream full stories with a beginning a middle and an end. This tendency would result in my missing instructions in school so that I would turn up at school without some piece of homework that every other student turned in. It was humiliating, but daydream I continued to do.
On December 7th, 1941, I had just come in from playing "kick the can" when my brother told me that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. More terror and my belief that the "Supermen" were going to invade us. I was sure they would win. Late that Sunday afternoon the family was playing the card game "Hearts" when over the radio came news flashes of the damage done to Hawaii. These did nothing to soothe me.
The supermen never did invade us, but there was a costly war with Japan and Germany that finally ended in 1945. I was in camp when I heard that the atomic bomb had been dropped on Hiroshima. I don't recall being scared of the Germans maybe because my mother's side of the family was all German, though I didn't know this until I was maybe 15.
Then came the Berlin Blockade** when the Russians cut off all ground transport (highways, rail, and barge) to Berlin in June of 2008. As a result, President Truman decided on airlifts (not only food but coal as well and other essential items) to Berlin to sustain the people. By the end of the Blockade, 2.3 million pounds were flown into Berlin. The Blockade ended in May of 1949, but the airlift continued until September. I was sure this period of about a year with the airlift would lead to nuclear war (either by design or accident) and that I had maybe five years to live. So the 1950s were ushered in as a time of terror for me.
Things became rather quiet until 1958 with the Hungarian Uprising that we had encouraged. The Soviet response was brutal,. Again I felt it would have to end in a nuclear war. As I have said elsewhere, I never would have thought that Eisenhower would just say something like, "Too bad boys, You are on your own."** But he did and a nuclear war was avoided.
The 1960s were ushered in with Jack Kennedy as the president who started off his tenure with an abortive battle in Cuba called the Bay of Pigs. The Cubans did not join the insurgency and the invasion was aborted. Next, the Soviets tried to ship missiles to Cuba that created another incident threatening nuclear war. Curiously, I felt that it would not come because Cuba was in our sphere of influence just as Hungary was in the Soviet sphere of influence; however, we came closer than I thought. Just in case, however, I went out and bought the best bottle of cognac I could find and drank some. I thought that if I was wrong and I was going to suffer the rest of my life, at least I could look back and say that at one time I had the best of something. Secretly, we made a deal with the Soviets that if they withdrew from Cuba we would remove some threatening missiles of our own aimed at them though we weren't told that at the time.
To lift our spirits, President Kennedy committed us to send men to the Moon and bring them back safely to Earth before the decade was out. This seemed impossible to me because our rockets were still blowing up on the launching pad, yet it happened. I had been against space research because it was so expensive. A single disposable rocket mission cost about what my branch in my organization spent in a year, including salaries.
In 1965, President Kennedy and the prime minister of Japan, Ikeda, had a meeting in which the premier said that many Japanese scientists came to America but few American scientists went to Japan so they ginned up a program we called the U.S.-Japan Scientific Cooperation Program. It was meant for academic scientists but few were volunteering to go. One day in 1965 my boss called me in and said, "Think of something to do in Japan." OK, I was to go, but I was not in great health (In fact when I was 22, I was told that if I lived to 35 I would be immobilized in a wheelchair.) and was sure I would die there. Though the trip was exhausting, I did survive it and had many great memories.
In October of 1968, I was sent to Switzerland for a year and I was there during the Christmas message of our astronauts*** who circled behind the moon. I had an epiphany and became a booster of the space program. Apparently, I sent ESP signals to my organization and they lent me out to NASA to help set up the lunar sample program for 15 mo. This was an exhausting job and I was glad to get out of it at the time, but great memories remain. NASA members had great depression after the failed Apollo 13 mission that, however, brought the astronauts safely back to Earth. Everyone thought that the upcoming Apollo 14 mission would be the last. It would end if it was successful so President Nixon could go out of the program successfully, or it wouldn't be successful so the program would end because it was too costly in equipment and lives. Astronauts had already died during an accidental practice session fire in the lunar module. Each mission was said to cost $300,000,000.
I had felt that life was closing in ahead of me and that I would never get to Europe or Japan again. In the early 1970s, I was sure I was going to be fired by President Nixon who was out to "get" Civil Servants. To prepare for this, I started to drink Gallo red wine that I could buy by the gallon and that I called Nixon Boudreaux. But I was to visit Japan again in 1975 after the "Americanization of Japan" had set in and there were McDonald's and Mr. Donut stores around, and I was to visit Europe several times, mostly with my second wife who loved travel.
(To Be Continued)
* We attended a Presbyterian church called House Of Hope which had close ties with China through supporting a medical missionary to China, Republican Rep. Dr. Walter H. Judd who served as a U.S. Representative for 20 yrs, a strong anti-communist, and became known as a leader of a group informally called the "China Lobby."
** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Blockade
*** A rather glorious title because they were going to the Moon, not the stars..
I do admit that most of my memories are of a rather pleasant early childhood in the 1930s when gasoline was 25 cents/gallon or five gallons for a dollar, but, more importantly to me, candy bars were a nickel or three for a dime. My mother had an artistic temperament so there were times with a lot of yelling and spanking over some indiscretions that were real or imagined. I had some speaking problems, mainly pronouncing "Rs" as "Ws", for example, I would pronounce "car" as "cow." I had trouble memorizing the multiplication tables, particularly so with the times 7s, a defect that was cured with flashcards and daily exercises with them. I became a sickly child in the later 1930s and ran through all the communicable diseases one after the other, it seemed (mumps, measles, whooping cough, chickenpox). At that time, you were quarantined for four to six weeks each so I missed a lot of school in the early grades. I wasn't held back a year because it was judged that I was working up to my abilities (We didn't have As and Bs, etc).
Finally, however, in the 4th grade, I missed only 4 half days of school in the entire school year. I wasn't held back a grade so I could start playing catch up. I was a terrible daydreamer and would dream full stories with a beginning a middle and an end. This tendency would result in my missing instructions in school so that I would turn up at school without some piece of homework that every other student turned in. It was humiliating, but daydream I continued to do.
On December 7th, 1941, I had just come in from playing "kick the can" when my brother told me that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. More terror and my belief that the "Supermen" were going to invade us. I was sure they would win. Late that Sunday afternoon the family was playing the card game "Hearts" when over the radio came news flashes of the damage done to Hawaii. These did nothing to soothe me.
The supermen never did invade us, but there was a costly war with Japan and Germany that finally ended in 1945. I was in camp when I heard that the atomic bomb had been dropped on Hiroshima. I don't recall being scared of the Germans maybe because my mother's side of the family was all German, though I didn't know this until I was maybe 15.
Then came the Berlin Blockade** when the Russians cut off all ground transport (highways, rail, and barge) to Berlin in June of 2008. As a result, President Truman decided on airlifts (not only food but coal as well and other essential items) to Berlin to sustain the people. By the end of the Blockade, 2.3 million pounds were flown into Berlin. The Blockade ended in May of 1949, but the airlift continued until September. I was sure this period of about a year with the airlift would lead to nuclear war (either by design or accident) and that I had maybe five years to live. So the 1950s were ushered in as a time of terror for me.
Things became rather quiet until 1958 with the Hungarian Uprising that we had encouraged. The Soviet response was brutal,. Again I felt it would have to end in a nuclear war. As I have said elsewhere, I never would have thought that Eisenhower would just say something like, "Too bad boys, You are on your own."** But he did and a nuclear war was avoided.
The 1960s were ushered in with Jack Kennedy as the president who started off his tenure with an abortive battle in Cuba called the Bay of Pigs. The Cubans did not join the insurgency and the invasion was aborted. Next, the Soviets tried to ship missiles to Cuba that created another incident threatening nuclear war. Curiously, I felt that it would not come because Cuba was in our sphere of influence just as Hungary was in the Soviet sphere of influence; however, we came closer than I thought. Just in case, however, I went out and bought the best bottle of cognac I could find and drank some. I thought that if I was wrong and I was going to suffer the rest of my life, at least I could look back and say that at one time I had the best of something. Secretly, we made a deal with the Soviets that if they withdrew from Cuba we would remove some threatening missiles of our own aimed at them though we weren't told that at the time.
To lift our spirits, President Kennedy committed us to send men to the Moon and bring them back safely to Earth before the decade was out. This seemed impossible to me because our rockets were still blowing up on the launching pad, yet it happened. I had been against space research because it was so expensive. A single disposable rocket mission cost about what my branch in my organization spent in a year, including salaries.
In 1965, President Kennedy and the prime minister of Japan, Ikeda, had a meeting in which the premier said that many Japanese scientists came to America but few American scientists went to Japan so they ginned up a program we called the U.S.-Japan Scientific Cooperation Program. It was meant for academic scientists but few were volunteering to go. One day in 1965 my boss called me in and said, "Think of something to do in Japan." OK, I was to go, but I was not in great health (In fact when I was 22, I was told that if I lived to 35 I would be immobilized in a wheelchair.) and was sure I would die there. Though the trip was exhausting, I did survive it and had many great memories.
In October of 1968, I was sent to Switzerland for a year and I was there during the Christmas message of our astronauts*** who circled behind the moon. I had an epiphany and became a booster of the space program. Apparently, I sent ESP signals to my organization and they lent me out to NASA to help set up the lunar sample program for 15 mo. This was an exhausting job and I was glad to get out of it at the time, but great memories remain. NASA members had great depression after the failed Apollo 13 mission that, however, brought the astronauts safely back to Earth. Everyone thought that the upcoming Apollo 14 mission would be the last. It would end if it was successful so President Nixon could go out of the program successfully, or it wouldn't be successful so the program would end because it was too costly in equipment and lives. Astronauts had already died during an accidental practice session fire in the lunar module. Each mission was said to cost $300,000,000.
I had felt that life was closing in ahead of me and that I would never get to Europe or Japan again. In the early 1970s, I was sure I was going to be fired by President Nixon who was out to "get" Civil Servants. To prepare for this, I started to drink Gallo red wine that I could buy by the gallon and that I called Nixon Boudreaux. But I was to visit Japan again in 1975 after the "Americanization of Japan" had set in and there were McDonald's and Mr. Donut stores around, and I was to visit Europe several times, mostly with my second wife who loved travel.
(To Be Continued)
* We attended a Presbyterian church called House Of Hope which had close ties with China through supporting a medical missionary to China, Republican Rep. Dr. Walter H. Judd who served as a U.S. Representative for 20 yrs, a strong anti-communist, and became known as a leader of a group informally called the "China Lobby."
** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Blockade
*** A rather glorious title because they were going to the Moon, not the stars..
Sunday, April 19, 2020
CORONOVIRUS SUMMER PAUSE?
It appears that new admissions to hospitals for coronavirus are decreasing in New York and maybe Michigan.* If this is the case, we may be going into a summer pause as the flu season is over and in the summer pause already. Deaths will continue to be high for a while yet because of cases already in the system.
I am unable to confirm drops for other centers.
* https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2020/04/13/coronavirus-hospital-admissions-begin-to-drop-in-new-york-city-1275158
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/18/coronvirus-new-yorks-cuomo-briefs-updates-on-covid-19.html
https://www.foxnews.com/us/michigan-field-hospital-scale-back-beds
I am unable to confirm drops for other centers.
* https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2020/04/13/coronavirus-hospital-admissions-begin-to-drop-in-new-york-city-1275158
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/18/coronvirus-new-yorks-cuomo-briefs-updates-on-covid-19.html
https://www.foxnews.com/us/michigan-field-hospital-scale-back-beds
Saturday, April 18, 2020
CAN TRUMP TAKE CREDIT FOR OPENING THE STATES AND BLAME THE CONSEQUENCES ON THE GOVERNORS?
While millions are sick and thousands are dying of coronavirus, Trump is playing serious politics. He recently claimed he had total power over the governors and was thinking about telling them to open up business in spite of coronavirus. As he does not have this power, I wondered how he was going to escape this one. Well, it turned out to be easy. He did it in two steps, First he said that he would delegate the power to open up the states to the governors (pretty clever) and then (2) attack the WHO organization to change the subject.
Though I find what Trump is doing to be sick, his plan is to take credit for opening the states while pinning the blame for coronavirus resurgence on the Governors (probably the Democratic governors). Of courses, governors can see through this, but it makes their job more difficult.
It is clear to me that Trump does not give a hoot about human life (well, maybe his children). After all, look at how he walked away from our Kurdish allies leaving them to be slaughtered by the Turks. It should be clear that all along Trump has viewed the coronavirus as an economic problem and not a human life problem.
In his convoluted way, Trump is encouraging demonstrators to "Liberate" Minnesota, Michigan, and Virginia to open businesses.* He is actually fomenting problems in these states by urging demonstrators on. I wondered if these demonstrators are getting paid?
I can't see how this all ends well. In the end, I presume we are just going to give up controlling the coronavirus and suffer the consequences. Maybe we will end up with 2 million deaths after all.
* https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/tea-party-style-protests-break-out-across-country-against-stay-n1185611
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8230031/Trump-tells-Dem-governors-LIBERATE-Michigan-Virginia-Minnesota.html
Though I find what Trump is doing to be sick, his plan is to take credit for opening the states while pinning the blame for coronavirus resurgence on the Governors (probably the Democratic governors). Of courses, governors can see through this, but it makes their job more difficult.
It is clear to me that Trump does not give a hoot about human life (well, maybe his children). After all, look at how he walked away from our Kurdish allies leaving them to be slaughtered by the Turks. It should be clear that all along Trump has viewed the coronavirus as an economic problem and not a human life problem.
In his convoluted way, Trump is encouraging demonstrators to "Liberate" Minnesota, Michigan, and Virginia to open businesses.* He is actually fomenting problems in these states by urging demonstrators on. I wondered if these demonstrators are getting paid?
I can't see how this all ends well. In the end, I presume we are just going to give up controlling the coronavirus and suffer the consequences. Maybe we will end up with 2 million deaths after all.
* https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/tea-party-style-protests-break-out-across-country-against-stay-n1185611
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8230031/Trump-tells-Dem-governors-LIBERATE-Michigan-Virginia-Minnesota.html
Saturday, April 11, 2020
CORONAVIRUS: INFECTIONS/DEATHS PARADOX
We are told that the death rate from coronavirus is about 1%. In case you wonder what is behind this "guesstimate," there is nothing behind it.
Consider, the official counts as of April 8 were 426,300 cases and 14,622 deaths. Normally I would consider the death rate to be the more accurate figure, but we should remember that the death count is only for those hospitalized and does not include those who die at home. If the death rate is 1%, then the caseload should be 1,462,200 (100 x 14, 622) rather than the published value of 426,300. So 426,300/(1,462,200) = 0.29%. That is to say that the death rate is something more like 0.29% rather than 1%.
Let's do it the other way around. Let's say that the caseload is the better number so if there are 426,300 cases then 1% should be 4,263 deaths (426,300/100), but this calculation is 0.29%, even less (4,263/14,622).
To the best of my knowledge, all death-rate figures come out to be much less than 1%.
As of April 8, there were 1,508,965 cases of coronavirus worldwide and 88,323 deaths. If the death rate is 1%, then there should be 8,832,300 cases which would indicate that the death rate is about 0.17%.
As of 04-10-2020, the caseload has topped 518,892 and the deaths have topped 20,109 for the U.S.* Here the death rate would be about 0.25%
* https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html
Consider, the official counts as of April 8 were 426,300 cases and 14,622 deaths. Normally I would consider the death rate to be the more accurate figure, but we should remember that the death count is only for those hospitalized and does not include those who die at home. If the death rate is 1%, then the caseload should be 1,462,200 (100 x 14, 622) rather than the published value of 426,300. So 426,300/(1,462,200) = 0.29%. That is to say that the death rate is something more like 0.29% rather than 1%.
Let's do it the other way around. Let's say that the caseload is the better number so if there are 426,300 cases then 1% should be 4,263 deaths (426,300/100), but this calculation is 0.29%, even less (4,263/14,622).
To the best of my knowledge, all death-rate figures come out to be much less than 1%.
As of April 8, there were 1,508,965 cases of coronavirus worldwide and 88,323 deaths. If the death rate is 1%, then there should be 8,832,300 cases which would indicate that the death rate is about 0.17%.
As of 04-10-2020, the caseload has topped 518,892 and the deaths have topped 20,109 for the U.S.* Here the death rate would be about 0.25%
* https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html
Saturday, March 28, 2020
BUY ON THE RUMOR, SELL ON THE NEWS
There is a lot of lore in the stock markets. One is "Sell In May and Go Away." In this case, selling stocks in May and rebuying after Halloween results in a 10% gain over "Buy and Hold."
We have just witnessed the application of another old adage which is" BUY ON THE RUMOR, SELL ON THE NEWS" In the runup to the approval of the $2 Trillion Corononavirus Relief Bill (Friday, March 27, 2020) for the economy, the stock markets rose precipitously for three days prior to the signing. Not even record unemployment applications stopped the upsurge. When it became clear that the bill was going to be signed and approved on Friday, stocks crashed. People not in the know were surprised at the decline, but I expected it.*
Incidentally, another important adage says "Markets can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent." by John Maynard Keynes" I refer to this one as the short sellers lament. That is people who borrow (sell) a certain number of shares of stocks at one price and expect to pay the loan off by buying the stocks at a lower price making the difference between the selling price and the buying price.** This is an advanced trading technique that I don't recommend for us retail investors.
Then there is The four most dangerous words in investing are: ‘this time it’s different’."
Sir John Templeton
* https://www.nbcnews.com/business/markets/stocks-fall-questions-rise-over-passage-2-trillion-economic-relief-n1170221
** https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/shortselling.asp
We have just witnessed the application of another old adage which is" BUY ON THE RUMOR, SELL ON THE NEWS" In the runup to the approval of the $2 Trillion Corononavirus Relief Bill (Friday, March 27, 2020) for the economy, the stock markets rose precipitously for three days prior to the signing. Not even record unemployment applications stopped the upsurge. When it became clear that the bill was going to be signed and approved on Friday, stocks crashed. People not in the know were surprised at the decline, but I expected it.*
Incidentally, another important adage says "Markets can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent." by John Maynard Keynes" I refer to this one as the short sellers lament. That is people who borrow (sell) a certain number of shares of stocks at one price and expect to pay the loan off by buying the stocks at a lower price making the difference between the selling price and the buying price.** This is an advanced trading technique that I don't recommend for us retail investors.
Then there is The four most dangerous words in investing are: ‘this time it’s different’."
Sir John Templeton
* https://www.nbcnews.com/business/markets/stocks-fall-questions-rise-over-passage-2-trillion-economic-relief-n1170221
** https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/shortselling.asp
Thursday, March 26, 2020
THERE WILL BE A WOMAN PRESIDENT WHEN WOMEN WANT ONE
Though many women would like to see a woman president, when it comes to picking one, however, they back off. Ok, so you want a woman president but not this woman (Hillary Clinton). It turns out that more women voted for Trump than for Hillary.
But what about the current group? Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand, Tulsi Gabbard, Marianne Williamson give a lot of choices such as Warren who is more liberal and Amy who is more centrist, etc. Why didn't women back one of these candidates? Too many choices?
I like Amy and hope she is chosen as the Vice-President candidate. Incidentally, there has been no woman Vice-President. A couple has been chosen as candidates but were not elected. Common women, go for her!
Kamala is not only a former District Attorney and Attorney General of California but counts as a Black and India Indian to boot.
By the way, many decades ago I was living in Zurich (1968-1969) and the topic of the day there was should women be allowed to vote? There was an organization of women called the Frauen Verein (simply Women's Organization). Among the reasons they thought women shouldn't have the right to vote is that it would do away with all the chivalry/graces women have like men opening the doors for them.
But what about the current group? Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand, Tulsi Gabbard, Marianne Williamson give a lot of choices such as Warren who is more liberal and Amy who is more centrist, etc. Why didn't women back one of these candidates? Too many choices?
I like Amy and hope she is chosen as the Vice-President candidate. Incidentally, there has been no woman Vice-President. A couple has been chosen as candidates but were not elected. Common women, go for her!
Kamala is not only a former District Attorney and Attorney General of California but counts as a Black and India Indian to boot.
By the way, many decades ago I was living in Zurich (1968-1969) and the topic of the day there was should women be allowed to vote? There was an organization of women called the Frauen Verein (simply Women's Organization). Among the reasons they thought women shouldn't have the right to vote is that it would do away with all the chivalry/graces women have like men opening the doors for them.
Saturday, March 21, 2020
TRUMP IS LIKE DEER CAUGHT IN THE CAR LIGHTS
President Trump has made some half-way progress toward becoming a President by announcing a National Emergency (and it is not about Mexicans crossing our Southern border), but he has to keep spoiling it with things like saying that the government is not a purchasing agent in the corona(Chinese)virus. Yet that is exactly what is needed instead to leave it up to each governor. And it is needed to be determined just how much of everything may be needed in this pandemic While it is good for the President's morale to appear on TV with the press briefing on corona(Chinese)virus every day, we need him off trying to make sure that all the supplies needed are in production and increasing production. After all, he says we are at war. What is our military effort in this war - guarding the border to make sure no illegal Mexicans are crossing over??
Trump's declaring a National Emergency and that we are at war is permitting the military to get involved. New York has ordered 4 field hospitals from the DOD that will have 250 beds each and come with ventilators. Maybe the cavalry is coming?
Trump says that the benefit of coronavirus is that it lets him deal with illegal immigration as he sees fit, the part of the problem Trump's base treasures. I find that kind of weird, but it does deal with the external part of the problem. At this point, I think that the internal problem with coronavirus is more important.
The latest coming shortage appears to be of swabs for nose and mouth.* Why don't we have some sort of organization looking at these things to make sure that we can fulfill the total package.?
American industry is willing to help with the Pandemic but is awaiting orders for the most part. For example, a company called Steel Case has said they could convert to making hospital beds and is awaiting orders. Is has been known that the number of hospital beds needed is going to increase alarmingly.**
Oh, and are medical masks ever going to catch up with the need? There does seem to be some pickup in deliveries, but nearly all the news you hear is of state and hospitals and physicians saying they can't get the HP-95 masks. I think the major maker of these masks in the U.S. is 3M.
3M Co. MMM, ... said Friday it had doubled global production of N95 masks and plans to continue to expand amid concerns about dwindling supplies of the respirator masks for health workers treating COVID-19 patients. The company's output of N95 masks is at an annual rate of more than 1.1 billion a year, 3M said. The company is increasing investments, mostly in the U.S., to expand its global capacity by more than 30% in the next 12 months and maximizing production of other products used to combat the illness, including hand sanitizers, disinfectants and air-filtration products, it said, without providing dollar figures.***
At least one other company is also ramping up production.
So why is it so hard to produce new masks? The New York Times reported that China made half of the world’s masks before the outbreak, and while factory production has increased nearly twelvefold, the country has kept most of its inventory as it sought to control the virus. US mask manufacturers are also seeing unprecedented demand for masks, with Prestige Ameritech, the country’s biggest producer, aiming to make 1 million masks a day, compared to an average 250,000 before the pandemic.****
The latest coming shortage appears to be of swabs for nose and mouth. Why don't we have some sort of organization looking at these things to make sure that we can fulfill the total package? Oh well, GM and Tesla have said they will start making ventilators. That is not going to be so easy, I think.
* https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/03/18/817801222/testing-swabs-run-in-short-supply-as-makers-try-to-speed-up-production
** https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-hospital-bed-crunch-capacity-18e22c81-006b-4654-a74c-40ff86488431.html
*** https://www.marketwatch.com/story/3m-to-increase-production-of-n95-masks-other-coronavirus-related-products-2020-03-20
https://www.thomasnet.com/articles/top-suppliers/surgical-mask-manufacturer-suppliers/
**** https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2020/3/20/21188369/face-masks-short-supply-coronavirus-donations
Trump's declaring a National Emergency and that we are at war is permitting the military to get involved. New York has ordered 4 field hospitals from the DOD that will have 250 beds each and come with ventilators. Maybe the cavalry is coming?
Trump says that the benefit of coronavirus is that it lets him deal with illegal immigration as he sees fit, the part of the problem Trump's base treasures. I find that kind of weird, but it does deal with the external part of the problem. At this point, I think that the internal problem with coronavirus is more important.
The latest coming shortage appears to be of swabs for nose and mouth.* Why don't we have some sort of organization looking at these things to make sure that we can fulfill the total package.?
American industry is willing to help with the Pandemic but is awaiting orders for the most part. For example, a company called Steel Case has said they could convert to making hospital beds and is awaiting orders. Is has been known that the number of hospital beds needed is going to increase alarmingly.**
Oh, and are medical masks ever going to catch up with the need? There does seem to be some pickup in deliveries, but nearly all the news you hear is of state and hospitals and physicians saying they can't get the HP-95 masks. I think the major maker of these masks in the U.S. is 3M.
3M Co. MMM, ... said Friday it had doubled global production of N95 masks and plans to continue to expand amid concerns about dwindling supplies of the respirator masks for health workers treating COVID-19 patients. The company's output of N95 masks is at an annual rate of more than 1.1 billion a year, 3M said. The company is increasing investments, mostly in the U.S., to expand its global capacity by more than 30% in the next 12 months and maximizing production of other products used to combat the illness, including hand sanitizers, disinfectants and air-filtration products, it said, without providing dollar figures.***
At least one other company is also ramping up production.
So why is it so hard to produce new masks? The New York Times reported that China made half of the world’s masks before the outbreak, and while factory production has increased nearly twelvefold, the country has kept most of its inventory as it sought to control the virus. US mask manufacturers are also seeing unprecedented demand for masks, with Prestige Ameritech, the country’s biggest producer, aiming to make 1 million masks a day, compared to an average 250,000 before the pandemic.****
The latest coming shortage appears to be of swabs for nose and mouth. Why don't we have some sort of organization looking at these things to make sure that we can fulfill the total package? Oh well, GM and Tesla have said they will start making ventilators. That is not going to be so easy, I think.
* https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/03/18/817801222/testing-swabs-run-in-short-supply-as-makers-try-to-speed-up-production
** https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-hospital-bed-crunch-capacity-18e22c81-006b-4654-a74c-40ff86488431.html
*** https://www.marketwatch.com/story/3m-to-increase-production-of-n95-masks-other-coronavirus-related-products-2020-03-20
https://www.thomasnet.com/articles/top-suppliers/surgical-mask-manufacturer-suppliers/
**** https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2020/3/20/21188369/face-masks-short-supply-coronavirus-donations
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
CORONAVIRUS: ACTIONS AND INACTIONS
So the Fed has dropped the short-term interest rate to near zero. Well, I suppose that saving 1 percent on your loans may be of some help, but it is mainly "feel good" help.
It looks like Moscow Mitch has torpedoed the House financial bill that was aimed to help the working poor. So it looks like millions of Americans are just going to have to suck it up. Will food banks be open? I guess there are groups that serve hot meals once a day.
So no surprise that the stock market is down big time again Monday. Maybe it will be called the Mitch Recession? Or how about the By, By Trump Recession.
He got a lot of credit for declaring a National Emergency, but then the next day he said he wasn't sure he did the right thing. Still stepping on his good points.
Speaking of Trump, all of a sudden he seems to realize that the Coronavirus is a real problem, even a real problem for him. He is now appearing daily with the White House Taskforce and not stepping all over his concerns. As they say in 12-step programs, "Fake it until you make it." Trouble is, now Trump has to contend with Moscow Mitch who seems to think that the unemployed are no problem.
Even some Republicans are beginning to be believers in the pandemic. Newt Gingrich, for example, is running a program from Rome that states you can't ignore facts. well, that in itself is an advance for Republicans.*
* https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/as-much-of-america-takes-drastic-action-some-republicans-remain-skeptical-of-the-severity-of-the-coronavirus-pandemic/2020/03/17/f8b199c8-6786-11ea-b313-df458622c2cc_story.html?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most
It looks like Moscow Mitch has torpedoed the House financial bill that was aimed to help the working poor. So it looks like millions of Americans are just going to have to suck it up. Will food banks be open? I guess there are groups that serve hot meals once a day.
So no surprise that the stock market is down big time again Monday. Maybe it will be called the Mitch Recession? Or how about the By, By Trump Recession.
He got a lot of credit for declaring a National Emergency, but then the next day he said he wasn't sure he did the right thing. Still stepping on his good points.
Speaking of Trump, all of a sudden he seems to realize that the Coronavirus is a real problem, even a real problem for him. He is now appearing daily with the White House Taskforce and not stepping all over his concerns. As they say in 12-step programs, "Fake it until you make it." Trouble is, now Trump has to contend with Moscow Mitch who seems to think that the unemployed are no problem.
Even some Republicans are beginning to be believers in the pandemic. Newt Gingrich, for example, is running a program from Rome that states you can't ignore facts. well, that in itself is an advance for Republicans.*
* https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/as-much-of-america-takes-drastic-action-some-republicans-remain-skeptical-of-the-severity-of-the-coronavirus-pandemic/2020/03/17/f8b199c8-6786-11ea-b313-df458622c2cc_story.html?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most
Saturday, March 14, 2020
CORONAVIRUS AND THE STOCK MARKETS
The Alex Witt program on MSNBC (March 14, 2020) had an unexpected speech by President Trump that was actually very uplifting. Not only do we now have emergency relief money, but the White House/House of Representatives have come to an agreement on a package that addressees people being put out of work or staying home because of school closings, etc.* (Moscow Mitch sounds as if he will submarine it, but Sec. Treasury says there will only be some “technical” corrections on Monday.) The bill includes free testing, ramping up testing (Thermo-Fischer has been approved to do testing and is the first company) If the bill passes the Senate, there will be good news for the stock markets and they can go up. Trump says that shaking hands is not a good idea, but when someone puts out their hand to him, it is a reflex to shake the hand. He will work on it. Trump also has had a coronavirus test and he is OK. Also, travel restrictions are extended to the UK and Ireland on Monday.
But isn’t this a complication?
In April, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is set to tighten rules for unemployed adults who don’t have minor children or disabilities, a policy that will shrink food benefit enrollment by 700,000, or about 2% annually.
(https://www.newsmax.com/politics/snap-cuts-administration/2020/03/13/id/958307/?ns_mail_uid=142cf6cb-b757-4a77-afda-d3310b9288ee&ns_mail_job=DM94941_03042020&s=acs&dkt_nbr=010104ggycvl )
If this is the new Trump, he may well be tough come election day. His previous efforts to minimize reporting on the coronavirus wasn't working.
Regarding continuing care facilities, there is to be minimal contact between family and friends with residents Contact will be permitted in end-of-life situations.
* According to House Appropriations Committee Democrats, the legislation:
Requires private health plans to cover coronavirus testing at no cost, and allocates $1 billion for testing for uninsured Americans
Ensures employers with fewer than 500 employees and government employers offer two weeks of paid sick leave. The provision expires at the end of the year
Requires those same kinds of employers to provide up to 3 months of paid family and medical leave for people forced to quarantine due to the virus or care for children or family members because of the outbreak
Offers payroll tax credits for employers providing those leave benefits
Puts $1 billion into emergency state grants for providing unemployment insurance benefits. It includes $500 million for staffing and logistical costs for states, with an additional $500 million reserved for states that see a 10% increase in unemployment
Puts $500 million into food assistance for low-income pregnant women and mothers with young children, $400 million into local food banks and $250 million into a senior nutrition program
Suspends the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program work requirements for the duration of the crisis
* https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/13/coronavirus-outbreak-pelosi-and-trump-administration-reach-deal.html
Here is another interesting article on the stock markets.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/31/the-stock-market-boomed-in-2019-heres-how-it-happened.html
Monday, March 9, 2020
CORONAVIRUS AND AGE; WILL IT GO AWAY?
Not many children are getting the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), but it is the elderly at most risk.
"We now know more about who is at risk. Average age of death for people from coronavirus is 80. Average age of people who need medical attention is age 60. We want people who are older, people who have medical conditions, to take steps to protect themselves, including avoiding crowded spaces, including thinking very carefully about whether or not now is the time to get on that cruise ship, whether now is the time to take that long haul flight," Adams said. "For most people you're going to be fine. But if you have medical conditions, or you're older, now is the time to rethink that."&
"We now know more about who is at risk. Average age of death for people from coronavirus is 80. Average age of people who need medical attention is age 60. We want people who are older, people who have medical conditions, to take steps to protect themselves, including avoiding crowded spaces, including thinking very carefully about whether or not now is the time to get on that cruise ship, whether now is the time to take that long haul flight," Adams said. "For most people you're going to be fine. But if you have medical conditions, or you're older, now is the time to rethink that."*
.....................................................................
Will COVID-19 go away in the summer like normal flu?
And experts warn that even if COVID-19 becomes less active in the summer, it could return if public health officials do not gain control of the outbreak first.
“If we continue to see sustained transmission in multiple countries, it will be very difficult to eradicate the virus,” says Charles Chiu, a professor of laboratory medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. “There is a risk that it may end up becoming a seasonal virus without global concerted public health interventions to prevent spread.”**
He points to the 2009 outbreak of the H1N1 virus, otherwise known as swine flu, which began in April of that year. He says that as it adapted to the human population, it adopted a seasonal pattern, with most infections now occurring during the winter months.**
* https://q13fox.com/2020/03/08/us-surgeon-general-says-he-thinks-coronavirus-is-contained-in-certain-areas-of-the-country/
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/coronavirus-kill-senior-citizens/2020/03/09/id/957522/?ns_mail_uid=142cf6cb-b757-4a77-afda-d3310b9288ee&ns_mail_job=DM95997_03092020&s=acs&dkt_nbr=010135hgigw6
** https://time.com/5790880/coronavirus-warm-weather-summer/.
"We now know more about who is at risk. Average age of death for people from coronavirus is 80. Average age of people who need medical attention is age 60. We want people who are older, people who have medical conditions, to take steps to protect themselves, including avoiding crowded spaces, including thinking very carefully about whether or not now is the time to get on that cruise ship, whether now is the time to take that long haul flight," Adams said. "For most people you're going to be fine. But if you have medical conditions, or you're older, now is the time to rethink that."&
"We now know more about who is at risk. Average age of death for people from coronavirus is 80. Average age of people who need medical attention is age 60. We want people who are older, people who have medical conditions, to take steps to protect themselves, including avoiding crowded spaces, including thinking very carefully about whether or not now is the time to get on that cruise ship, whether now is the time to take that long haul flight," Adams said. "For most people you're going to be fine. But if you have medical conditions, or you're older, now is the time to rethink that."*
.....................................................................
Will COVID-19 go away in the summer like normal flu?
And experts warn that even if COVID-19 becomes less active in the summer, it could return if public health officials do not gain control of the outbreak first.
“If we continue to see sustained transmission in multiple countries, it will be very difficult to eradicate the virus,” says Charles Chiu, a professor of laboratory medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. “There is a risk that it may end up becoming a seasonal virus without global concerted public health interventions to prevent spread.”**
He points to the 2009 outbreak of the H1N1 virus, otherwise known as swine flu, which began in April of that year. He says that as it adapted to the human population, it adopted a seasonal pattern, with most infections now occurring during the winter months.**
* https://q13fox.com/2020/03/08/us-surgeon-general-says-he-thinks-coronavirus-is-contained-in-certain-areas-of-the-country/
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/coronavirus-kill-senior-citizens/2020/03/09/id/957522/?ns_mail_uid=142cf6cb-b757-4a77-afda-d3310b9288ee&ns_mail_job=DM95997_03092020&s=acs&dkt_nbr=010135hgigw6
** https://time.com/5790880/coronavirus-warm-weather-summer/.
Sunday, March 1, 2020
CAN YOU GET CORONAVIRUS FROM PACKING MATERIAL?
Though we are calling the present outbreak of super flu using the general name coronavirus, the actual name is COVID-19, ‘CO’ stands for ‘corona,’ ‘VI’ for ‘virus,’ and ‘D’ for disease.*
........................................................
I have wondered whether we can get COVID-19 from packaging material. Based on the behavier of previous coronavirus outbreaks like MERS and particularly genetically related SARS, it appears that packing materials are not a problem.
About 81% of people who are infected with the coronavirus have mild cases of COVID-19, according to a study published Feb. 18 by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. About 13.8% report severe illness, meaning they have shortness of breath, or require supplemental oxygen, and about 4.7% are critical, meaning they face respiratory failure, multi-organ failure or septic shock. The data thus far suggests that only around 2.3% of people infected with COVID-19 die from the virus. People who are older or have underlying health conditions seem to be most at risk of having severe disease or complications. While there's no need to panic, people should take steps to prepare and protect themselves and others from the new coronavirus.
.....................................................................
A past study found that these related coronaviruses can stay on surfaces such as metal, glass or plastic for as long as nine days, according to a study published Feb. 6 in The Journal of Hospital Infection. But the surfaces present in packaging are not ideal for the virus to survive.
For a virus to remain viable, it needs a combination of specific environmental conditions such as temperature, lack of UV exposure and humidity — a combination you won't get in shipping packages, according to Dr. Amesh A. Adalja, Senior Scholar, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, who spoke with Live Science's sister site Tom's Hardware.*
When bringing home groceries and packages or having them delivered, it is a good idea to wash your hands after putting things away because of recent contacts with other people. But this is true for the flu also.
* https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-myths.html
See index at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html and
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html
........................................................
I have wondered whether we can get COVID-19 from packaging material. Based on the behavier of previous coronavirus outbreaks like MERS and particularly genetically related SARS, it appears that packing materials are not a problem.
About 81% of people who are infected with the coronavirus have mild cases of COVID-19, according to a study published Feb. 18 by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. About 13.8% report severe illness, meaning they have shortness of breath, or require supplemental oxygen, and about 4.7% are critical, meaning they face respiratory failure, multi-organ failure or septic shock. The data thus far suggests that only around 2.3% of people infected with COVID-19 die from the virus. People who are older or have underlying health conditions seem to be most at risk of having severe disease or complications. While there's no need to panic, people should take steps to prepare and protect themselves and others from the new coronavirus.
.....................................................................
A past study found that these related coronaviruses can stay on surfaces such as metal, glass or plastic for as long as nine days, according to a study published Feb. 6 in The Journal of Hospital Infection. But the surfaces present in packaging are not ideal for the virus to survive.
For a virus to remain viable, it needs a combination of specific environmental conditions such as temperature, lack of UV exposure and humidity — a combination you won't get in shipping packages, according to Dr. Amesh A. Adalja, Senior Scholar, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, who spoke with Live Science's sister site Tom's Hardware.*
When bringing home groceries and packages or having them delivered, it is a good idea to wash your hands after putting things away because of recent contacts with other people. But this is true for the flu also.
* https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-myths.html
See index at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html and
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html
Monday, February 24, 2020
A VERY STABLE GENIUS (book review)
Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig have published a 465 page book titled “A Very Stable Genius, Donald J. Trump’s Testing Of America.” This book is a trip down memory lane of the highlights, or should I say low lights, of Donald Trumps first 2½ yrs as president.
I had a minor problem following things in the book because it did not proceed in a linear fashion with time. They were good at telling you what month an event occurred, but sometimes you were left guessing as to the year.
The book seems to me to do a good job on covering events overall. I would have liked, however, to have seen more on the kidnaping of children of illegal immigrants at our Southern border. It was mentioned, but I think it deserved more, certainly equal treatment to withdrawing our troops from Syria that was well covered. I recall, for example, Sessions claim that illegal immigration was against our law, but he also had to add that it is Biblically correct by citing a cherry picked passage of Paul in Romans that people should follow the law.* This passage has often been used to justify things like slavery also.
It is true that in Romans 13, Paul instructs his audience of Jesus followers to obey the laws of the government. It is a generic statement about obedience that does not refer specifically to families, children, or immigration. As a result, it has been a fruitful Bible verse for those looking to squelch political dissent.*
..........................................................
To quote a different verse: "You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in Egypt." (from Exodus 23:9)*
...........................................................
Given that both the Hebrew Bible and Jesus have particular concern for the treatment of orphans and children in general (Psalm 68:5, James 1:27, Matthew 19:14), it seems especially strange to suggest that separating families is somehow biblical.*
Overall, however, the book seems pretty complete, even telling us what people wore on different occasions. An index is included. There is a section with numerous footnotes that I admit I didn’t read. The book is well written and a quick read, maybe partially because the events described are so recent.
*https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/15/opinions/jeff-sessions-misreads-bible-to-justify-separating-families-moss/index.html
I had a minor problem following things in the book because it did not proceed in a linear fashion with time. They were good at telling you what month an event occurred, but sometimes you were left guessing as to the year.
The book seems to me to do a good job on covering events overall. I would have liked, however, to have seen more on the kidnaping of children of illegal immigrants at our Southern border. It was mentioned, but I think it deserved more, certainly equal treatment to withdrawing our troops from Syria that was well covered. I recall, for example, Sessions claim that illegal immigration was against our law, but he also had to add that it is Biblically correct by citing a cherry picked passage of Paul in Romans that people should follow the law.* This passage has often been used to justify things like slavery also.
It is true that in Romans 13, Paul instructs his audience of Jesus followers to obey the laws of the government. It is a generic statement about obedience that does not refer specifically to families, children, or immigration. As a result, it has been a fruitful Bible verse for those looking to squelch political dissent.*
..........................................................
To quote a different verse: "You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in Egypt." (from Exodus 23:9)*
...........................................................
Given that both the Hebrew Bible and Jesus have particular concern for the treatment of orphans and children in general (Psalm 68:5, James 1:27, Matthew 19:14), it seems especially strange to suggest that separating families is somehow biblical.*
Overall, however, the book seems pretty complete, even telling us what people wore on different occasions. An index is included. There is a section with numerous footnotes that I admit I didn’t read. The book is well written and a quick read, maybe partially because the events described are so recent.
*https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/15/opinions/jeff-sessions-misreads-bible-to-justify-separating-families-moss/index.html
Sunday, February 23, 2020
PUTIN, TRUMP, AND SANDERS
Recent word is that the Russians are trying to boost Bernie Sanders Democratic nomination for president as well as Donald Trump. Many seem confused, but it occured to me and some others that the Russians are boosting Trump for President but Sanders for the Democratic nonination because they feel Trump can beat Sanders.
However, this morning an alternative explanation came to me. Maybe it isn't so much that Putin favors Donald Trump because of his favorability to Putin but that the goal is to ruin America, and they think that either Trump or Sanders will do this. Therefore they may think that Trump vs. Sanders is a win-win situation for them. Either way America would abandon our form of democracy and turn the U.S. into a more autocratic state.
Also See: Trump vs. Trump (er Sanders)
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2020/02/trump-vs-trump-er-sanders.html
However, this morning an alternative explanation came to me. Maybe it isn't so much that Putin favors Donald Trump because of his favorability to Putin but that the goal is to ruin America, and they think that either Trump or Sanders will do this. Therefore they may think that Trump vs. Sanders is a win-win situation for them. Either way America would abandon our form of democracy and turn the U.S. into a more autocratic state.
Also See: Trump vs. Trump (er Sanders)
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2020/02/trump-vs-trump-er-sanders.html
Friday, February 21, 2020
ROGER STONE SENTENCED TO 40 MO. IN PRISION
Roger Stone was convicted on 7 counts by a jury but was released on his own cognisance pending sentencing. I thought that this indicated that the judge was going to low ball the sentence and not follow the guide line of 7-9 yrs in jail. In addition the judge has been low balling all the sentences on political subjects. George Papadopoulos served only 14 days in jail, for example.*
So I figured that she may go with a sentec of 18 mo. Because Donald Trump got into the act and because Roger Stone was so poorly behaved (defying a gag orderm, for example) she might add a year to make 30 mo.
In the end, the judge settled on a 40 mo. sentence, but she has let Stone be free until she rules on whether Stone deserves a new trial as has been requested by Stone’s lawyers.
Stone is one of six Trump advisers and confidants who have either been convicted or pleaded guilty in connection with former special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation. That list includes former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, former deputy campaign chairman Rick Gates, former national security adviser Michael Flynn, former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen and former campaign adviser George Papadopoulos.**
This is the cause of the request for a new trial. Why did Stone's lawyers pick her?
Former Memphis City Schools Board President Tomeka Hart revealed Wednesday that she was the foreperson of the jury that convicted former Trump adviser Roger Stone on obstruction charges last year -- and soon afterward, her history of Democratic activism and a string of her anti-Trump, left-wing social media posts came to light.***
* Paul Manadort is actual in jail on a sentence of 7-1/2 years ns has acgtually been in jail for more than a year. Michael Cohen has been in prison for nearly a year. Michael Flynn is yet to be sentenced. Rick Gates gets 45 days of weekend jail. Unlike Manafort, Gates cooperated fully with authorities which explains the light sentence.
** https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/roger-stone-sentence-due-thursday-in-federal-court/2020/02/19/2e01bfc8-4c38-11ea-9b5c-eac5b16dafaa_story.htm
*** https://www.foxnews.com/politics/roger-stone-juror-justice-department-anti-trump-social-media
So I figured that she may go with a sentec of 18 mo. Because Donald Trump got into the act and because Roger Stone was so poorly behaved (defying a gag orderm, for example) she might add a year to make 30 mo.
In the end, the judge settled on a 40 mo. sentence, but she has let Stone be free until she rules on whether Stone deserves a new trial as has been requested by Stone’s lawyers.
Stone is one of six Trump advisers and confidants who have either been convicted or pleaded guilty in connection with former special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation. That list includes former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, former deputy campaign chairman Rick Gates, former national security adviser Michael Flynn, former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen and former campaign adviser George Papadopoulos.**
This is the cause of the request for a new trial. Why did Stone's lawyers pick her?
Former Memphis City Schools Board President Tomeka Hart revealed Wednesday that she was the foreperson of the jury that convicted former Trump adviser Roger Stone on obstruction charges last year -- and soon afterward, her history of Democratic activism and a string of her anti-Trump, left-wing social media posts came to light.***
* Paul Manadort is actual in jail on a sentence of 7-1/2 years ns has acgtually been in jail for more than a year. Michael Cohen has been in prison for nearly a year. Michael Flynn is yet to be sentenced. Rick Gates gets 45 days of weekend jail. Unlike Manafort, Gates cooperated fully with authorities which explains the light sentence.
** https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/roger-stone-sentence-due-thursday-in-federal-court/2020/02/19/2e01bfc8-4c38-11ea-9b5c-eac5b16dafaa_story.htm
*** https://www.foxnews.com/politics/roger-stone-juror-justice-department-anti-trump-social-media
Thursday, February 20, 2020
TRUMP VS. TRUMP ( er SANDERS)
The big problem with electing Bernie Sanders for the Democratic nominee for President is that he is so similar to Donald Trump. What, what, you say? Consider:
1. Both are grumpy old men.
2. Both want to eliminate the ACA (Obamacare). This is the most important political similarity.
3. Both have a fanatical base.
4. Both flipped on gun control (Sanders feels that gun industry should not be liable for what is done with thier product.)
5. Both are for major infrastructure programs (though Trump has never really pursued this goal).
6. Both are for "fair" trade, not "free" trade.
7. Both say they are for saving Social Security (though some Trump actions seem to belie this).
8. Both oppose North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
9. Both opposed the Iraq War.
10. Both are against science.
11. Both oppose the U.S. being the World's policeman.
https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2016/01/what-bernie-sanders-and-donald-trump-have-in-common/422907/
https://www.npr.org/2016/02/08/465974199/what-do-sanders-and-trump-have-in-common-more-than-you-think
1. Both are grumpy old men.
2. Both want to eliminate the ACA (Obamacare). This is the most important political similarity.
3. Both have a fanatical base.
4. Both flipped on gun control (Sanders feels that gun industry should not be liable for what is done with thier product.)
5. Both are for major infrastructure programs (though Trump has never really pursued this goal).
6. Both are for "fair" trade, not "free" trade.
7. Both say they are for saving Social Security (though some Trump actions seem to belie this).
8. Both oppose North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
9. Both opposed the Iraq War.
10. Both are against science.
11. Both oppose the U.S. being the World's policeman.
https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2016/01/what-bernie-sanders-and-donald-trump-have-in-common/422907/
https://www.npr.org/2016/02/08/465974199/what-do-sanders-and-trump-have-in-common-more-than-you-think
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
RED LINING
Red lining is a term used to indicate an area where it is felt people are not able to repay loans.
Financial institutions have a legal and moral responsibility to deny loans to individuals who are not creditworthy and cannot repay the debt. This may at times seem discriminatory, but approving loans for people without the means to repay them created the foundation for the Great Recession. Naturally, lenders—as well as the institutions that regulate them—want to discourage similar events from happening in the future.
Banks are free to set their own lending standards based on economic characteristics such as credit score, debt levels, and employment income. The Fair Housing Act also allows lenders to consider things like the property’s condition, local home values, neighborhood amenities, and their own need for a balanced loan portfolio when evaluating an applicant.*
Please note that nowhere in the above quote does it say that Red Lining is a discriminatory process not to extend loans to Black, Hipanics or any other racial group though you might conclude it applioes to poor people.
Mike Bloomberg said the following:
“It probably all started back when there was a lot of pressure on banks to make loans to everyone,” Mr. Bloomberg said in a lecture at Georgetown University in September 2008. “Redlining, if you remember, was the term where banks took whole neighborhoods and said, ‘People in these neighborhoods are poor, they’re not going to be able to pay off their mortgages, tell your salesmen don’t go into those areas.’”**
Please note that nowhere in the above Bloomberg quote does it say that Red Lining only applies to loans to Blacks, Hipanics or any other racial group though he says it applied to poor people. While many Balcks, Hispanics, and other racial groups may be poor, there are more poor whiles than the minority groups.
But the fact is that making loans to people who couldn/t afford to repay them was a terrible thing and eventually resulted in the collapse of our financial system and the Great Recession.
Our own experience:
Back in 2005, my wife and I took out a construction loan with a major regional bank with few questions asked. When the money from the sale of our previous home came through, we paid off the construction loan and the bank said they were willing to make the inspections anyway. We agreed. They were so nice.
In 2012, we palnned to move to a continuing care facility and naturally applied to the same bank for a loan on the home to pay for the entry fee to the continuing care facility. Then every few days or weeks, I received an e-mail to answer some questions. This continued on and on for almost the entire year and really drained me psycologically.
Much to my surprise, the bank finally denied us the 80 percent loan on the home valued at their appraisal value which, at that time was much lower (maybe 40 percent) than what we had paid for the home. The reason given was that we had inapproropiriate assets (stocks and bonds) though our assets were valued at many times the amount of the loan in addition to our income.
We were told that "maybe" they could give us a $100,000 home improvement loan, but I didn't want to play that game of "maybe." So we sold some of our inappropriate assets, paid the entry fee at the continuing care facility, and gifted the home to the oldest son.
You hear the statment that "only people can get a loan that don't need it." In our case, we didn't need th loan and still couldn't get it. You don't need to be poor to be refused a loan.
* https://www.thebalance.com/definition-of-redlining-1798618
** https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/13/us/politics/michael-bloomberg-redlining.html?auth=login-email&login=email
“It probably all started back when there was a lot of pressure on banks to make loans to everyone,” Mr. Bloomberg said in a lecture at Georgetown University in September 2008. “Redlining, if you remember, was the term where banks took whole neighborhoods and said, ‘People in these neighborhoods are poor, they’re not going to be able to pay off their mortgages, tell your salesmen don’t go into those areas.’”**
Please note that nowhere in the above Bloomberg quote does it say that Red Lining only applies to loans to Blacks, Hipanics or any other racial group though he says it applied to poor people. While many Balcks, Hispanics, and other racial groups may be poor, there are more poor whiles than the minority groups.
But the fact is that making loans to people who couldn/t afford to repay them was a terrible thing and eventually resulted in the collapse of our financial system and the Great Recession.
Our own experience:
Back in 2005, my wife and I took out a construction loan with a major regional bank with few questions asked. When the money from the sale of our previous home came through, we paid off the construction loan and the bank said they were willing to make the inspections anyway. We agreed. They were so nice.
In 2012, we palnned to move to a continuing care facility and naturally applied to the same bank for a loan on the home to pay for the entry fee to the continuing care facility. Then every few days or weeks, I received an e-mail to answer some questions. This continued on and on for almost the entire year and really drained me psycologically.
Much to my surprise, the bank finally denied us the 80 percent loan on the home valued at their appraisal value which, at that time was much lower (maybe 40 percent) than what we had paid for the home. The reason given was that we had inapproropiriate assets (stocks and bonds) though our assets were valued at many times the amount of the loan in addition to our income.
We were told that "maybe" they could give us a $100,000 home improvement loan, but I didn't want to play that game of "maybe." So we sold some of our inappropriate assets, paid the entry fee at the continuing care facility, and gifted the home to the oldest son.
You hear the statment that "only people can get a loan that don't need it." In our case, we didn't need th loan and still couldn't get it. You don't need to be poor to be refused a loan.
* https://www.thebalance.com/definition-of-redlining-1798618
** https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/13/us/politics/michael-bloomberg-redlining.html?auth=login-email&login=email
Saturday, February 15, 2020
STOP AND FRISK
Many African Americans, particularly on TV (like al Sharpton), think that Mike Bloomberg isn't qualified to be president unless he does something meaningful about his "former" view on Stop and Frisk. They have talked about resitution, for example.* I'm not sure how you would do this and would it ever be enough? I'm really surprised at the ferosity of the attacks on TV.
I am not African American, but I have always been afraid of the police and have been very careful to be very polite around them. I have had several minor run ins with the police, mostly driving infractions. I had one where I was picked up by police for trespassing on the grounds of a women's college. They drove me around for quite awhile, put the fear of God in me, and let me loose.
I was afraid of what might come next so I told my father about the incident, and he didn't seem very disturbed, no yelling or anything. So far as I can tell, my subsequent life was not impacted by this event or any of the traffic violatons, though some I thought were unfair.
So what would the long-term impact be on me if I was Stoppped And Frisked? I didn't have a gun and didn't take any drugs. In my time, there was some pot use (called reefers), but I didn't know of anyone who took heroin, cocane, or other addictive drugs other than pot, smoking or alcohol consumption. Inicdentally, I didn't smoke or drink alcolic drinks either.
I think I would have just shrugged it off. If I was repeatedly stopped and frisked, I may have been more emotionally affected, especially if force was used, but I was already very fearful of police. I used to carry a mall swtich blade before they were outlawed (and even after until the spring broke). I'm not sure what would have happened if frisked.
An interesting statistic was that police found a knife in only about one percent of Blacks being frsiked. I'm really surprised it was not much, much more. I carry a knife, not for any offensive or defensive purposed but to lpen things like beer cans (to lift the flip top) or trim my finger nails or open packages or such things.
I believe less intrusive things have proved a better way to decrease crime.
* I have been unable to find any Bloomberg donations to Black insitutions such as Hisotroical Black Colleges, but he had made meaningful donations to help low income students which I presume include Black low-inocmone students as well as other races.
Bloomberg Philanthropies focuses on driving public policy initiatives and education leadership at a local level as a means to improving America's school system. To date, the organization's education giving has been split between charitable, legislative and political initiatives.[78] In October 2014, Bloomberg Philanthropies launched a $10 million program to help top-performing students from low- and middle-income families apply to and graduate from the nation's top colleges.[79] By December 2016, it pledged to give $1.7 million to the American Talent Initiative, a program run by the College Excellence Program at the Aspen Institute and Ithaka S+R, a consulting subsidiary of Ithaka Harbors
In March 2013, Bloomberg Philanthropies announced Providence, R.I. as the winner of the Mayors Challenge, an initiative intended to foster innovation in America's cities. Providence was awarded $5 million for proposing a plan to overcome a language skills deficit prominent in low-income children. Houston, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Santa Monica each were awarded $1 million.[68]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomberg_Philanthropies
I am not African American, but I have always been afraid of the police and have been very careful to be very polite around them. I have had several minor run ins with the police, mostly driving infractions. I had one where I was picked up by police for trespassing on the grounds of a women's college. They drove me around for quite awhile, put the fear of God in me, and let me loose.
I was afraid of what might come next so I told my father about the incident, and he didn't seem very disturbed, no yelling or anything. So far as I can tell, my subsequent life was not impacted by this event or any of the traffic violatons, though some I thought were unfair.
So what would the long-term impact be on me if I was Stoppped And Frisked? I didn't have a gun and didn't take any drugs. In my time, there was some pot use (called reefers), but I didn't know of anyone who took heroin, cocane, or other addictive drugs other than pot, smoking or alcohol consumption. Inicdentally, I didn't smoke or drink alcolic drinks either.
I think I would have just shrugged it off. If I was repeatedly stopped and frisked, I may have been more emotionally affected, especially if force was used, but I was already very fearful of police. I used to carry a mall swtich blade before they were outlawed (and even after until the spring broke). I'm not sure what would have happened if frisked.
An interesting statistic was that police found a knife in only about one percent of Blacks being frsiked. I'm really surprised it was not much, much more. I carry a knife, not for any offensive or defensive purposed but to lpen things like beer cans (to lift the flip top) or trim my finger nails or open packages or such things.
I believe less intrusive things have proved a better way to decrease crime.
* I have been unable to find any Bloomberg donations to Black insitutions such as Hisotroical Black Colleges, but he had made meaningful donations to help low income students which I presume include Black low-inocmone students as well as other races.
Bloomberg Philanthropies focuses on driving public policy initiatives and education leadership at a local level as a means to improving America's school system. To date, the organization's education giving has been split between charitable, legislative and political initiatives.[78] In October 2014, Bloomberg Philanthropies launched a $10 million program to help top-performing students from low- and middle-income families apply to and graduate from the nation's top colleges.[79] By December 2016, it pledged to give $1.7 million to the American Talent Initiative, a program run by the College Excellence Program at the Aspen Institute and Ithaka S+R, a consulting subsidiary of Ithaka Harbors
In March 2013, Bloomberg Philanthropies announced Providence, R.I. as the winner of the Mayors Challenge, an initiative intended to foster innovation in America's cities. Providence was awarded $5 million for proposing a plan to overcome a language skills deficit prominent in low-income children. Houston, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Santa Monica each were awarded $1 million.[68]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomberg_Philanthropies
Thursday, February 13, 2020
ON BUYING ELECTIONS
I am hearing a lot of comments on cable news about Mike Bloomberg buying the Democratic presidential nomination.
Not commented upon is another billionaire - Tom Steyer - who has been running for the Democratic nomination for president for months. I would say that I have seen his advertisements for at least a year (actually October 2017).* The point is he barely registers in the polls.
Though I am sure that having money helps, but it takes more than just money. something else is involved too so that Bloomberg seems to be competitive and Steyer does not.
And Bloomberg has some skeletons in his closet. Some African Americans wasnt to oppose Bloomberg because of stop and frisk, but a lot of Blacks seem to favor him.
Time will tell.
I must say that I am fond of Bloomberg (78, b. February 14, 1942) as the Democratic nominee for president based upon his overall record in politics, such as his three terms as governor of New York, a tough state politically. I favor a ticket of Mike Bloomberg and Amy Klobuchar.
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Steyer
Not commented upon is another billionaire - Tom Steyer - who has been running for the Democratic nomination for president for months. I would say that I have seen his advertisements for at least a year (actually October 2017).* The point is he barely registers in the polls.
Though I am sure that having money helps, but it takes more than just money. something else is involved too so that Bloomberg seems to be competitive and Steyer does not.
And Bloomberg has some skeletons in his closet. Some African Americans wasnt to oppose Bloomberg because of stop and frisk, but a lot of Blacks seem to favor him.
Time will tell.
I must say that I am fond of Bloomberg (78, b. February 14, 1942) as the Democratic nominee for president based upon his overall record in politics, such as his three terms as governor of New York, a tough state politically. I favor a ticket of Mike Bloomberg and Amy Klobuchar.
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Steyer
Saturday, February 8, 2020
GLOBAL WARMING TODAY
A brief look at the temperaures and other related conditions. conditions
Temperature records in Antarctica:
Antarctica just set its hottest temperature ever recorded at 64.9 degrees Fahrenheit as climate change continues to accelerate, according to measurements from an Argentinian research station thermometer.
The reading was taken at the Esperanza Base along Antarctica’s Trinity Peninsula on Thursday. It beats the continent’s previous record of 63.5 degrees tallied in March 2015, and comes shortly after the Earth saw its hottest January on record and hottest decade on record in the 2010s.*
Now For Australia:
From 25 December 2018, Australia was faced with constant record-breaking heatwaves with few breaks. December 2018 was recorded as the hottest December on record, while New South Wales had their warmest January since 2011.[77][78] Adelaide recorded its hottest day on record on 24 January, surpassing the previous record from 1939, reaching 46.6 °C (115.9 °F) at 3:36pm local time, and many settlements across South Australia set new records the same day.
..................................................................
Melbourne was forecast to have its hottest day since the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires on 25 January (although this failed to eventuate), while over 200,000 homes across Victoria lost power due to load shedding.[82] On 25 January Melbourne had its hottest day of either January or February: 109 F.[83]**
On 25 January the temperature of The Treasure Coast-West reached 45.0 °C (113 °F).[84]**
........................................................................
In a more recent report from January 23, 2020:
At 6.15pm there are 70 fires burning, 44 are not contained. Three are at Emergency Warning. More than 1,700 firefighters are at work. Hot conditions will continue tonight for many areas. ***
And Let's not forget Europe:
Europe faced its warmest January on record, about 0.36°F (0.2ºC) warmer than the previous warmest January in 2007 and 5.58°F (3.1°C) warmer than the 1981-2010 January average for the region, according to a European Union climate agency. Europe also had its warmest year on record in 2019, with temperatures surpassing more than 2.16°F above the 1981-2010 average, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service.****
* https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/07/climate-change-antarctica-registers-hottest-temperature-ever.html
** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_heat_waves
*** https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2020/jan/23/nsw-fires-live-updates-victoria-bushfires-south-australia-fire-sa-australian-bushfire-near-me-cfa-rfs-latest-news-today-thursday
**** https://time.com/5779142/global-temperatures-warmest-january/
Temperature records in Antarctica:
Antarctica just set its hottest temperature ever recorded at 64.9 degrees Fahrenheit as climate change continues to accelerate, according to measurements from an Argentinian research station thermometer.
The reading was taken at the Esperanza Base along Antarctica’s Trinity Peninsula on Thursday. It beats the continent’s previous record of 63.5 degrees tallied in March 2015, and comes shortly after the Earth saw its hottest January on record and hottest decade on record in the 2010s.*
Now For Australia:
From 25 December 2018, Australia was faced with constant record-breaking heatwaves with few breaks. December 2018 was recorded as the hottest December on record, while New South Wales had their warmest January since 2011.[77][78] Adelaide recorded its hottest day on record on 24 January, surpassing the previous record from 1939, reaching 46.6 °C (115.9 °F) at 3:36pm local time, and many settlements across South Australia set new records the same day.
..................................................................
Melbourne was forecast to have its hottest day since the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires on 25 January (although this failed to eventuate), while over 200,000 homes across Victoria lost power due to load shedding.[82] On 25 January Melbourne had its hottest day of either January or February: 109 F.[83]**
On 25 January the temperature of The Treasure Coast-West reached 45.0 °C (113 °F).[84]**
........................................................................
In a more recent report from January 23, 2020:
At 6.15pm there are 70 fires burning, 44 are not contained. Three are at Emergency Warning. More than 1,700 firefighters are at work. Hot conditions will continue tonight for many areas. ***
And Let's not forget Europe:
Europe faced its warmest January on record, about 0.36°F (0.2ºC) warmer than the previous warmest January in 2007 and 5.58°F (3.1°C) warmer than the 1981-2010 January average for the region, according to a European Union climate agency. Europe also had its warmest year on record in 2019, with temperatures surpassing more than 2.16°F above the 1981-2010 average, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service.****
* https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/07/climate-change-antarctica-registers-hottest-temperature-ever.html
** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_heat_waves
*** https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2020/jan/23/nsw-fires-live-updates-victoria-bushfires-south-australia-fire-sa-australian-bushfire-near-me-cfa-rfs-latest-news-today-thursday
**** https://time.com/5779142/global-temperatures-warmest-january/
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
DEMOCRATIC VS. REPUBLICAN GROUPS
We all know that certain groups of people tend to vote Republican and others Democratic. The Pew Research Group has come up with a figure (see below) showing by just how much various groups tilt toward Republican or Democratic from 1992 through 2014, but to summarize, here are some results of the study:
Democrats hold advantages in party identification among blacks, Asians, Hispanics, well-educated adults and Millennials. Republicans have leads among whites – particularly white men, those with less education and evangelical Protestants – as well as members of the Silent Generation.*
(Click on figure to enlarge)
A more recent study covering 1994 through 2017 shows those with no more than a high school degree shift more toward Republicans.
By contrast, white voters with no more than a high school education have moved more to the GOP over the last 10 years, though there has been little change since 2015. As recently as 2009, these voters were divided in leaned partisanship. Since then, Republicans have held significant advantages, including a 23-percentage-point lead in 2017 (58% Republican, 35% Democratic).**
I find this strange for a less educated group shift toward a political party that caters to the more wealthy (Republicans). Elsewhere I have concluded, especially for white males with high school or less, this may be related to the Democrat's emphasis on women, minorities, and Gays who the white males feel are taking their jobs and keeping wages low.***
* https://www.people-press.org/2015/04/07/a-deep-dive-into-party-affiliation/
** https://www.people-press.org/2018/03/20/1-trends-in-party-affiliation-among-demographic-groups/
*** http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/07/democratic-economic-initiatives.html
Democrats hold advantages in party identification among blacks, Asians, Hispanics, well-educated adults and Millennials. Republicans have leads among whites – particularly white men, those with less education and evangelical Protestants – as well as members of the Silent Generation.*
A more recent study covering 1994 through 2017 shows those with no more than a high school degree shift more toward Republicans.
By contrast, white voters with no more than a high school education have moved more to the GOP over the last 10 years, though there has been little change since 2015. As recently as 2009, these voters were divided in leaned partisanship. Since then, Republicans have held significant advantages, including a 23-percentage-point lead in 2017 (58% Republican, 35% Democratic).**
I find this strange for a less educated group shift toward a political party that caters to the more wealthy (Republicans). Elsewhere I have concluded, especially for white males with high school or less, this may be related to the Democrat's emphasis on women, minorities, and Gays who the white males feel are taking their jobs and keeping wages low.***
* https://www.people-press.org/2015/04/07/a-deep-dive-into-party-affiliation/
** https://www.people-press.org/2018/03/20/1-trends-in-party-affiliation-among-demographic-groups/
*** http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/07/democratic-economic-initiatives.html
Monday, January 27, 2020
ECONOMiC DOWNTURN IN 2020? AND CONSUMER DEBT - UPDATE
This item amplifies some of the economic problems I see in consumers. Particularly addressed is credit card debt as well as concerns by CFOs of major companies. (SeeSoybean Socialism, Manufacturing Recession, And Consumer Debt (http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2020/01/soybean-socialismmanufacturing.html) Interestingly, CFOs say they expect consumer spending to be strong in 2020, but look at the debt consumers are handling.
Expectations for a U.S. downturn have jumped since the beginning of 2019, with 97% of CFOs saying that a downturn (either a slowdown or a recession) has already begun or will occur by the end of 2020. Compare that to 88% who said the same about 2020 in the first quarter of last year.*
43% of CFOs say consumer spending will be strong in 2020, down from the 54% who said the same for 2019. Just 22% expect strong business spending (vs. 32% a year ago).
CFOs said "trade wars" and "uncertainty" are their 2 top company concerns.*
(Click on figure to enlarge)
The figure was taken from AXIOS Item 6. Top executives are pessimistic about 2020 (January 9, 2020)*
There are other indicators used by researchers at MIT that a recession may occur within the next six months:
...the researchers analyzed four market factors — industrial production, nonfarm payrolls, stock market return and the slope of the yield curve — on a monthly basis. They then measured how the current relationship between the four metrics compares to historical readings.*
A recession is expected whenever the indicator rises above 70 and currently reads 76.*
I keep writing about consumer debt being at an all-time high. In spite of this, FICO Scores are at an all-time high.** There are several articles about credit card debt by states.*** I don't know why but different references give different conclusions as to which state has the lowest credit card balance. The CNBC reference says it is Iowa at $4,774 (but Value Penquin and Business Insider give Iowa as $6,696 in credit card debt). Business Insider gives the lowest Credit Card debt to be Ohio at $5,560 and Value Penquin gives Ohio as $5,446. CNBC indicates all the states with the lowest credit card debt are the Southern States (7 out of 10) with a few Purple States (3 out of 10).
ValuePenguin found that more than 40% of all US households carry credit card debt, with the average American household carrying a balance of $5,700. For only indebted households, which excludes people who pay their balances in full every month, the average debt is $9,333. [!]
.............................................................
Households with the lowest net worth (zero or negative) hold an average of $10,308 in credit card debt. [!]
Note added February 7: Though jobs are plentiful, the quality of the jobs seems to be declinging. See figure.****
Since 1990, America has cumulatively added some 20 million low-quality jobs, versus around 12 million high-quality ones. In short, the US economy has shifted toward creating more bad jobs than good.****
(Click on figure to enlarge)
* https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-markets-9a1d5199-5f02-4934-9d9f-46789d902fbe.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/05/70percent-chance-of-recession-in-next-six-months-study-from-mit-and-state-street-finds.html
**https://www.cnbc.com/select/average-fico-score-hits-record-high-703/
*** https://www.cnbc.com/select/average-credit-card-balance-by-state/
https://www.businessinsider.com/average-credit-card-debt-in-every-state-ranked-2018-8
https://www.valuepenguin.com/average-credit-card-debt
**** https://qz.com/1752676/the-job-quality-index-is-the-economic-indicator-weve-been-missing/
Expectations for a U.S. downturn have jumped since the beginning of 2019, with 97% of CFOs saying that a downturn (either a slowdown or a recession) has already begun or will occur by the end of 2020. Compare that to 88% who said the same about 2020 in the first quarter of last year.*
43% of CFOs say consumer spending will be strong in 2020, down from the 54% who said the same for 2019. Just 22% expect strong business spending (vs. 32% a year ago).
CFOs said "trade wars" and "uncertainty" are their 2 top company concerns.*
The figure was taken from AXIOS Item 6. Top executives are pessimistic about 2020 (January 9, 2020)*
There are other indicators used by researchers at MIT that a recession may occur within the next six months:
...the researchers analyzed four market factors — industrial production, nonfarm payrolls, stock market return and the slope of the yield curve — on a monthly basis. They then measured how the current relationship between the four metrics compares to historical readings.*
A recession is expected whenever the indicator rises above 70 and currently reads 76.*
I keep writing about consumer debt being at an all-time high. In spite of this, FICO Scores are at an all-time high.** There are several articles about credit card debt by states.*** I don't know why but different references give different conclusions as to which state has the lowest credit card balance. The CNBC reference says it is Iowa at $4,774 (but Value Penquin and Business Insider give Iowa as $6,696 in credit card debt). Business Insider gives the lowest Credit Card debt to be Ohio at $5,560 and Value Penquin gives Ohio as $5,446. CNBC indicates all the states with the lowest credit card debt are the Southern States (7 out of 10) with a few Purple States (3 out of 10).
ValuePenguin found that more than 40% of all US households carry credit card debt, with the average American household carrying a balance of $5,700. For only indebted households, which excludes people who pay their balances in full every month, the average debt is $9,333. [!]
.............................................................
Households with the lowest net worth (zero or negative) hold an average of $10,308 in credit card debt. [!]
Note added February 7: Though jobs are plentiful, the quality of the jobs seems to be declinging. See figure.****
Since 1990, America has cumulatively added some 20 million low-quality jobs, versus around 12 million high-quality ones. In short, the US economy has shifted toward creating more bad jobs than good.****
* https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-markets-9a1d5199-5f02-4934-9d9f-46789d902fbe.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/05/70percent-chance-of-recession-in-next-six-months-study-from-mit-and-state-street-finds.html
**https://www.cnbc.com/select/average-fico-score-hits-record-high-703/
*** https://www.cnbc.com/select/average-credit-card-balance-by-state/
https://www.businessinsider.com/average-credit-card-debt-in-every-state-ranked-2018-8
https://www.valuepenguin.com/average-credit-card-debt
**** https://qz.com/1752676/the-job-quality-index-is-the-economic-indicator-weve-been-missing/
Saturday, January 25, 2020
SOYBEAN SOCIALISM,MANUFACTURING RECESSION, AND CONSUMER DEBT
So far, President Trump has paid Federal money totaling $28 billion to farmers because of impacts from his tariff war, largely on China.*
Yet he [President Trump] was quick to remind them [farmers] that he’s tried to salve their pain. “I sometimes see where these horrible dishonest reporters will say that ‘oh jeez, the farmers are upset.’ Well, they can’t be too upset, because I gave them $12 billion and I gave them $16 billion this year,” said Trump, who then added, “I hope you like me even better than you did in ’16.”
......................................................................
At $28 billion so far, the farm rescue is more than twice as expensive as the 2009 bailout of Detroit’s Big Three automakers, which cost taxpayers $12 billion [Actually the money was repaid**]. And farmers expect the money to keep flowing: In an August survey by Purdue University and the CME Group, 58% said they anticipate another round of trade aid next year.*
But what about manufacturing, an industry that is in a depression caused by some degree from the tariff war? Admittedly the GM strike did not help but the decline is broader than that.
U.S. industrial production plunged in October at the fastest rate in a year-and-a-half, further underscoring the nation’s manufacturing downturn at a precarious time in its ongoing trade negotiations with China.***
The decline was much worse than expected due to a six-week work stoppage at General Motors that likely cost the auto manufacturer $3 billion. But even if we control for the GM strike, America’s productive economy has been in a downward spiral for decades.***
.........................................................................
Overall, manufacturing production has declined in three of the last four months.***
Didn't President Trump say he would bring back manufacturing to the U.S.?***
From tax cuts to relaxed regulations to tariffs, each of President Trump’s economic initiatives is based on a promise: to set off a wave of investment and bring back jobs that the president says the United States has lost to foreign countries.***
...........................................................................
Researchers at A. T. Kearney said last month that Mr. Trump’s trade policies, including tariffs, had pushed factory activity not to the United States but to low-cost Asian countries other than China, like Vietnam.***
(Click on Figure to enlarge)
As seen in the figure, a decline in manufacturing began as far back as 2017.****
Among the G-20 countries—which represent approximately 74% of global gross domestic product—as of November 2019, around 70% have a PMI registering below 50, the benchmark for expansion. The ISM index treaded into contraction during four straight months in late 2019 in the United States as well as in Europe, which, after Canada and Mexico, is the largest regional market for the U.S. industrial sector. The European market remains compromised by weakness in German manufacturing.****
Though there seems to be a lot of optimism about the economy in 2020, CEOs do not share it****
I keep hearing that consumers are in great shape, but I don't know about that because consumer debt is at an all-time high (See Figure below***).
(Click on Figure to enlarge)
By the end of the third quarter, debt-laden Americans owed a staggering $13.95 trillion, according to the New York Federal Reserve Bank. That puts household debt $1.3 trillion higher than the 2008 peak.***
A lot of consumers are dipping into their 401Ks which is not recommended and that seems hazardous to me. (https://www.investopedia.com/articles/retirement/06/eightreasons401k.asp
* https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-19/farmers-say-trump-s-28-billion-bailout-isn-t-a-solution
** https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/jan/22/barack-obama/obama-says-automakers-have-paid-back-all-loans-it-/
*** https://www.ccn.com/manufacturing-recession-puts-u-s-economy-on-track-for-worst-quarter-under-president-trump/
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/13/business/economy/donald-trump-jobs-created.html
**** https://rsmus.com/what-we-do/industries/industrial-products/5-manufacturing-trends-to-watch-in-2020.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/02/ceos-still-consider-recession-to-be-the-biggest-business-risk-in-2020.html
Yet he [President Trump] was quick to remind them [farmers] that he’s tried to salve their pain. “I sometimes see where these horrible dishonest reporters will say that ‘oh jeez, the farmers are upset.’ Well, they can’t be too upset, because I gave them $12 billion and I gave them $16 billion this year,” said Trump, who then added, “I hope you like me even better than you did in ’16.”
......................................................................
At $28 billion so far, the farm rescue is more than twice as expensive as the 2009 bailout of Detroit’s Big Three automakers, which cost taxpayers $12 billion [Actually the money was repaid**]. And farmers expect the money to keep flowing: In an August survey by Purdue University and the CME Group, 58% said they anticipate another round of trade aid next year.*
But what about manufacturing, an industry that is in a depression caused by some degree from the tariff war? Admittedly the GM strike did not help but the decline is broader than that.
U.S. industrial production plunged in October at the fastest rate in a year-and-a-half, further underscoring the nation’s manufacturing downturn at a precarious time in its ongoing trade negotiations with China.***
The decline was much worse than expected due to a six-week work stoppage at General Motors that likely cost the auto manufacturer $3 billion. But even if we control for the GM strike, America’s productive economy has been in a downward spiral for decades.***
.........................................................................
Overall, manufacturing production has declined in three of the last four months.***
Didn't President Trump say he would bring back manufacturing to the U.S.?***
From tax cuts to relaxed regulations to tariffs, each of President Trump’s economic initiatives is based on a promise: to set off a wave of investment and bring back jobs that the president says the United States has lost to foreign countries.***
...........................................................................
Researchers at A. T. Kearney said last month that Mr. Trump’s trade policies, including tariffs, had pushed factory activity not to the United States but to low-cost Asian countries other than China, like Vietnam.***
As seen in the figure, a decline in manufacturing began as far back as 2017.****
Among the G-20 countries—which represent approximately 74% of global gross domestic product—as of November 2019, around 70% have a PMI registering below 50, the benchmark for expansion. The ISM index treaded into contraction during four straight months in late 2019 in the United States as well as in Europe, which, after Canada and Mexico, is the largest regional market for the U.S. industrial sector. The European market remains compromised by weakness in German manufacturing.****
Though there seems to be a lot of optimism about the economy in 2020, CEOs do not share it****
I keep hearing that consumers are in great shape, but I don't know about that because consumer debt is at an all-time high (See Figure below***).
By the end of the third quarter, debt-laden Americans owed a staggering $13.95 trillion, according to the New York Federal Reserve Bank. That puts household debt $1.3 trillion higher than the 2008 peak.***
A lot of consumers are dipping into their 401Ks which is not recommended and that seems hazardous to me. (https://www.investopedia.com/articles/retirement/06/eightreasons401k.asp
* https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-19/farmers-say-trump-s-28-billion-bailout-isn-t-a-solution
** https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/jan/22/barack-obama/obama-says-automakers-have-paid-back-all-loans-it-/
*** https://www.ccn.com/manufacturing-recession-puts-u-s-economy-on-track-for-worst-quarter-under-president-trump/
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/13/business/economy/donald-trump-jobs-created.html
**** https://rsmus.com/what-we-do/industries/industrial-products/5-manufacturing-trends-to-watch-in-2020.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/02/ceos-still-consider-recession-to-be-the-biggest-business-risk-in-2020.html
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
ITEMS WITH THE MOST PAGE VIEWS AND MY FAVORITES - IX
Herein is my ninth annual summary of posts on my blog "Reunite Gondwanaland." November made the 10th anniversary of the blog. As of the end of 2019, the blog had over 114,000 page views and contains more than 1150 items of which 101 were published in 2019, compared to the all-time high of 202 in 2017. The peak year for interest in the blog was 2017. Although there was a general decline in interest in the blog starting in 2018, several items entered the top ten of all time in 2019, (given below). All the top posts for 2019 came before August and exceeded 100 page views. The listings follow with all references given at the end of the section.
Much to my surprise, though the posted article with the most page views, all time, is very short (2 sentences) and titled simply "What Does This Mean?" (published August 28, 2012) with more than 980 page views, number two with 711 page views is "On How Much Is Spent On Entertainment" originally published on June 30, 2013. The post originally got about 70 page views which is pretty good for me, but it was rediscovered in 2019 with a lot of activity, more than 600 page views. Now dropping to #3 with 629 page views is titled "Teenager" an 8 line poem from January 05,2017.
(http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2012/09/what-does-this-mean.html).
(http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2013/06/on-how-much-is-spent-on-entertainment.html)
(http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/01/teenager.html).
Top page views with some page views in 2019 (greater than 500 page views):
“Break Even Price Of Fracking (547 page views), October 8, 2014
"Michael Flynn" (522), February 13, 2014
“Parallel Government” (508), July 3, 2017
“Pugnacious Politics” (503), July 4, 2017
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2014/10/break-even-price-of-fracking-oil.html
https://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/02/michael-flynn.html
https://pcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/07/parallel-government.html;
https://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/07/pugnacious-politics.html
Top page views with some page views in 2019 (greater than 400 page views):
Three more items have over 400 page views,
“Illegal Immigration” with 496
“Infrastructure Program,” with 466 pageviews from November 23, 2016
new in 2019, “Parallels Between American And Israel Histories” (417), March 9, 2019).
https://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/02/illegal-immigration.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/11/infrastructure-program_23.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2019/03/parallels-between-american-and-israel.html
Top page views with some page views in 2019 (greater than 300 page views):
Three posts have over 300 page views:
“Detroit” (365) from October 26, 2016
new in 2019“Buying Politician’s Votes” (366), March 10, 2019
“Remarkable Wilma Rudolph - A Tribute" (337).
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/11/infrastructure-program_23.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2019/03/parallels-between-american-and-israel.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/10/detroit.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2019/03/buying-politiians-votes.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2014/08/remarkable-wilma-rudolph-tribute.html
Top pageviews of 2019 (greater than 200 page views):
None
Top page views with some page views in 2019 (greater than 100 page views):
General Zinni: Resigns As Envoy (197)
Conservative And Liberal Straws (157)
Rod Rosenstein, Hero, Announces Coming Resignation (117)
Richest Zip Codes (114)
Let Them Eat Cake (113)
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2019/01/gen-zinni-resigns-as-envoy.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2019/07/conservative-and-liberal-straws.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2019/05/rod-rosenstein-resigns-again.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2019/03/richest-zip-codes.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2019/01/let-them-eat-cake.html
My personal favorites are somewhat different.
I consider "Corporate Tax Cuts: Unintended Consequences" to be one of my best publications, but it got only 71 page views(http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/11/corporate-taxes-cuts-unintended.html).
It is right up there with" Effectiveness Of Taxes" posted way back in May of 2010 and is my personal favorite. While this piece ultimately has received 131 page views, which is nice, it hardly competes in favorability with many others published since. (http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2010/05/effectiveness-of-taxes.html)
I would also like to mention one additional poem, though it got only 19 page views "Upon the Second Anniversary Of Apollo 11," the first landing on the Moon [http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2010/01/upon-second-anniversary-of-apollo-11.html]. Normally a couplet or more just pops into my mind and I construct a poem around it. The second anniversary of Apollo Eleven, however, was little noticed which I thought was terrible so this was the first time I sat down to compose a poem from scratch
I would also like to add two other poems, one called "Earthquake." (April 21, 2014) with 44 page views. I like this because I feel I capture the power and emotion I was striving for in the poem.
and the other "Seagulls Of Myrtle Beach" (11-29-2009) with 25 page views.
https://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2014/04/earthquake-poem.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2009/11/seagulls-of-myrtle-beach.html
Also among poems, my favorite couplet that I have ever written is in "So How About An Asteroid" (Poem) [http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2011/07/so-how-about-asteroid-poem.html] (July 20,2011) with 89 page views:
Who could possibly be annoyed
About the study of an asteroid?
My favorite stanza is from "On Age 82" (Poem) (September 20, 2013 ) with 179 page views.[http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2013/09/on-age-82-poem.html]:
I do not text
And do not tweet
I'm 82 years old
Feeling kind of beat.
See the 2018 report for other items with more than 100 page views and additional information:(http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2019/01/items-with-most-page-views-and-my.html))
Much to my surprise, though the posted article with the most page views, all time, is very short (2 sentences) and titled simply "What Does This Mean?" (published August 28, 2012) with more than 980 page views, number two with 711 page views is "On How Much Is Spent On Entertainment" originally published on June 30, 2013. The post originally got about 70 page views which is pretty good for me, but it was rediscovered in 2019 with a lot of activity, more than 600 page views. Now dropping to #3 with 629 page views is titled "Teenager" an 8 line poem from January 05,2017.
(http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2012/09/what-does-this-mean.html).
(http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2013/06/on-how-much-is-spent-on-entertainment.html)
(http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/01/teenager.html).
Top page views with some page views in 2019 (greater than 500 page views):
“Break Even Price Of Fracking (547 page views), October 8, 2014
"Michael Flynn" (522), February 13, 2014
“Parallel Government” (508), July 3, 2017
“Pugnacious Politics” (503), July 4, 2017
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2014/10/break-even-price-of-fracking-oil.html
https://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/02/michael-flynn.html
https://pcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/07/parallel-government.html;
https://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/07/pugnacious-politics.html
Top page views with some page views in 2019 (greater than 400 page views):
Three more items have over 400 page views,
“Illegal Immigration” with 496
“Infrastructure Program,” with 466 pageviews from November 23, 2016
new in 2019, “Parallels Between American And Israel Histories” (417), March 9, 2019).
https://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/02/illegal-immigration.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/11/infrastructure-program_23.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2019/03/parallels-between-american-and-israel.html
Top page views with some page views in 2019 (greater than 300 page views):
Three posts have over 300 page views:
“Detroit” (365) from October 26, 2016
new in 2019“Buying Politician’s Votes” (366), March 10, 2019
“Remarkable Wilma Rudolph - A Tribute" (337).
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/11/infrastructure-program_23.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2019/03/parallels-between-american-and-israel.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/10/detroit.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2019/03/buying-politiians-votes.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2014/08/remarkable-wilma-rudolph-tribute.html
Top pageviews of 2019 (greater than 200 page views):
None
Top page views with some page views in 2019 (greater than 100 page views):
General Zinni: Resigns As Envoy (197)
Conservative And Liberal Straws (157)
Rod Rosenstein, Hero, Announces Coming Resignation (117)
Richest Zip Codes (114)
Let Them Eat Cake (113)
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2019/01/gen-zinni-resigns-as-envoy.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2019/07/conservative-and-liberal-straws.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2019/05/rod-rosenstein-resigns-again.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2019/03/richest-zip-codes.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2019/01/let-them-eat-cake.html
My personal favorites are somewhat different.
I consider "Corporate Tax Cuts: Unintended Consequences" to be one of my best publications, but it got only 71 page views(http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/11/corporate-taxes-cuts-unintended.html).
It is right up there with" Effectiveness Of Taxes" posted way back in May of 2010 and is my personal favorite. While this piece ultimately has received 131 page views, which is nice, it hardly competes in favorability with many others published since. (http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2010/05/effectiveness-of-taxes.html)
I would also like to mention one additional poem, though it got only 19 page views "Upon the Second Anniversary Of Apollo 11," the first landing on the Moon [http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2010/01/upon-second-anniversary-of-apollo-11.html]. Normally a couplet or more just pops into my mind and I construct a poem around it. The second anniversary of Apollo Eleven, however, was little noticed which I thought was terrible so this was the first time I sat down to compose a poem from scratch
I would also like to add two other poems, one called "Earthquake." (April 21, 2014) with 44 page views. I like this because I feel I capture the power and emotion I was striving for in the poem.
and the other "Seagulls Of Myrtle Beach" (11-29-2009) with 25 page views.
https://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2014/04/earthquake-poem.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2009/11/seagulls-of-myrtle-beach.html
Also among poems, my favorite couplet that I have ever written is in "So How About An Asteroid" (Poem) [http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2011/07/so-how-about-asteroid-poem.html] (July 20,2011) with 89 page views:
Who could possibly be annoyed
About the study of an asteroid?
My favorite stanza is from "On Age 82" (Poem) (September 20, 2013 ) with 179 page views.[http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2013/09/on-age-82-poem.html]:
I do not text
And do not tweet
I'm 82 years old
Feeling kind of beat.
See the 2018 report for other items with more than 100 page views and additional information:(http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2019/01/items-with-most-page-views-and-my.html))
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