Virus Blog

10/01/20

October. Sometimes as the days mount and the interest in writing a blog post wanes, it's easy to forget to mark specific milestones. This all began in the first quarter of the year and we are officially in the last quarter of the same year. October feels better than March. Basketball is still going on and the Lakers took a one game lead in the NBA finals. Football is happening, mostly without fans, but even the extensive mask wearing and testing of the NFL was not enough to protect the league (one team has 9 people who have tested positive). The weather will start to get colder sending us in doors and raising the risk for everyone at a time when many states are seeing explosive growth. But yesterday was the rare day when I leave the house. I went to the market for a few items. After parking the car I popped on my mask and the first thought in my mind was "that feels comfortable" and "I feel protected." This may seem silly but yesterday was the first day when it actually felt good to wear a mask. I've come a long way.

I read an article yesterday about an Indian research study. The conclusion proximity matters. A few people are spreading to a ridiculous number of people including the stat that 8% of people are responsible for 60% of infections. Humans of all ages are equally good at spreading the disease. Contact tracing is a good thing. And campaign rallies are dangerous. Well, the article didn't say that but the science certainly does.

Fact Check. Like many people I was yelling at the TV on Tuesday night during the debate. There were a number of fact checks that I was disappointed that Biden didn't raise.

Claim: No one has been hurt by Trump campaign rallies. Retort: Tell that to Herman Cain who died after attending a rally in Tulsa.
Claim: There is massive voter fraud especially with unrequested mail in ballots. Retort: Then why did your voting commission meet twice and the adjourn having found no such evidence?
Claim: He doesn't know who the Proud Boys are. Retort: If you don't know about them you shouldn't be forced to denounce them at least without a bit of research first. So, I get that, but how is it you know so much about Antifa and yet don't know anything about this group? It might help to pay a little more attention in your intelligence briefings.

The biggest news of the debate was when the president uttered "stand back and stand by" when he apparently tried to denounce a white supremacist group. If you rewind far enough the moderator asks the question "will you tell these groups to 'stand down.'" I'm convinced that the addled brain of the president couldn't remember which "stand" phrase he was being asked to say and ultimately started rattling through all the phrases...Stand up...no that's not it and then stand back and stand by popped into that mouse brain and was directly channeled to his mouth. I believe he misspoke. Amazingly he would rather NOT admit that he misspoke than wear the perception of a racist. I think that's more interesting than the original comment.

10/2/20

Bad News. The president finally has the virus. Gravity rules. It makes sense after months of flaunting precautions. It's key that Biden stay healthy now as proof that the president's strategy is horribly flawed. Many worry that this will be positioned as a "symptom free" and somehow validate the downplaying we've been hearing for six months. The watch begins.

Smoke. It's back. It's bad. We're inside. Remembering the glorious fresh air Northern California days of last week.

Next Blog Entry

Virus Blog