Keep America great! If that means breaking records, by jove we're there. Yesterday, there were 251,343 new coronavirus cases, a 19 percent increase over the last 14 days. And there were 2,805 deaths, a 26 percent increase over 14 days. Ten percent of Americans live in areas with a critical shortage of ICU beds. Critically injured in a traffic accident? There may not be room at the inn for you. There may also not be medical personnel who can treat you. When the pandemic started and New York City was the hot zone, doctors and nurses went there from other places to help sustain treatments. Now, everywhere seems to be a hot zone. Doctors and nurses everywhere are stretched thin. I did read that medical school applications were at new highs this year, but those docs won't be graduated for four years.
To make the pandemic even scarier, Boris Johnson said that the coronavirus variant in southern England appears to be 70 percent more transmissible than existing strains. It does not seem to be more lethal or to cause different symptoms; it is just more contagious. Johnson has imposed restrictions significantly stronger than any we have or will ever see here. Imposition of restrictions does not mean people will follow them. I can't imagine the police storming a residence to count how many families have gathered together.
The Lame Duck is still tweeting that Uncle Joe stole the election from him. He's also still asking for and accepting financial donations from his base. He's collected around $200 million so far. Not all of this is going toward reversing the elction results. One-fourth, or 25 cents of each dollar, goes to the Republican party. Some of the money has gone or is still going to pay off The Duck's campaign debts. The rest is going to the Save America Political Action Committee, probably laying the ground for The Lame Duck to try to be re-hatched in 2024.
The Lame Duck is not exiting the the White House into a welcoming world. The neighbors have pointed out that the agreement with Palm Beach to change a mansion into a private club--Mar-a-Lago-- holds that no one can live there. He faces legal challenges from New York City and State, challenges he cannot pardon his way out of. Finally, he has over $400 million in debt coming due, and it is not at all clear he has the funds to repay them.
It is still not clear if The Lame Duck plans to issue preemptive pardons for the Ducklings and, possibly, Rudy. And let's not forget the theory that he might preemptively pardon himself. For maximal effect, he could do that on January 19 or even the morning of January 20; Uncle Joe is not inaugurated until noon. How about stealing the headlines from Uncle Joe and then making his announcement for 2024 at a rally that coincides with the inauguration ceremony. I would not be at all surprised if any or all of that scenario took place.
On a totally unrelated front, VP Pence yesterday announced, "Soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and guardians will be defending our nation for generations to come." Guardians? Of the Galaxy? Nope. The Space Force will be made up of guardians. The inspiration was the original command motto of Air Force Space Command in 1983 which referred to "Guardians of the High Frontier." I can't imagine not sleeping better knowing that I have guardians protecting me.
To protect yourself, I do not recommend flying in a Boeing 737 MAX when they go back in service on December 29. According to a congressional report, the FAA and Boeing "inappropriately coached: test pilots during re-certification efforts. Pilots who had gotten such coaching responded to one contingency within four seconds. Raw or un-coached pilots took 16 seconds. There are circumstances in which 16 seconds would be enough to react safely, but there may be more in which it would not.
On the home front, the Christmas tree is standing in its intended spot. I have chosen ornaments to decorate it. Because it is shorter than we have had in the past, not all the usual ornaments will fit. I've set aside "special" ones. The Sons made some as did I; others were given to us by special friends. We will decorate the tree tomorrow. After that, I will declare us ready for Christmas. I will still have some gift-wrapping to do, but that's usual for the last minute. And The Professor traditionally purchases a present for me on December 24, a night on which I do not cook.
1 comment:
I am done with Christmas, or I will be when I've bought a turkey, cream, salad and whatever else is on the last minute list. I am lucky in that the numbers at my table have not changed because of Boris, there will be people who are now supposed to be cooking a Christmas dinner who had planned on being guests elsewhere and there will be people who had planned big dinners who are now feeding smaller numbers. There's no option to eat out and we are probably past the deadline for ordering takeaway Christmas dinner. Last week most of us could have the same three households gathering over a five day period, now it's down to the one day and for the newly created tier four group it's no travel and no meeting with other households indoors (and only one person outdoors).
The rules change so often and so radically that it is difficult to keep up with what is allowed and what is merely advised. The Christmas bubble (three households, no limit on numbers) trumps the rule of six but if you live in tier 4 that trumps the Christmas bubble. I don't go anywhere, see anyone or do anything (difficult as it's all shut) but I'm finding the constant changes unsettling.
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