Random Monday Morning Thoughts
- Wise County reported its first case of coronavirus, but I haven't seen anything about the age or sex of the individual. The official Texas website doesn't acknowledge it which doesn't give us much faith in the numbers being reported.
- The Board.
- New cases on Saturday: 19,452. New cases yesterday: 18,882. Increase/Decrease %: -3.5%. Yep, we actually had a decrease from Saturday to Sunday, but don't get excited since that's probably an anomaly.
- Deaths. Saturday: 525. Yesterday: 264. Increase/Decrease %: -49.7%. That's a little surprising.
- Despite the positive numbers, the rest of the news from yesterday was pretty shocking. The day began with Dr. Anthony Fauci, who I think everyone trusts, saying on CNN that based on modeling of the current pace of the coronavirus' spread in the U.S. that "between 100,000 and 200,000" people may die. Good lord. (I mentioned that to Mrs. LL last night who asked me, "You gonna do another 180?")
- Trump actually listened and yesterday afternoon, in his own Trumpian way, said that if the death toll stays at or below 100,000, "we all together have done a very good job." Sheesh. As for his let's-pack-the-churches at Easter hopes, he said that was no longer possible as we were all now shut down for at least all of April.
- I'm no scientist, but Trump's proclamation of 100,000 deaths being a "good job" is a long way from when he said on February 26th that "the 15 [cases which have been diagnosed], within a couple of days, is going to be down to close to zero." (Watching it now makes it even more bizarre.)
- He is getting real testy about people literally quoting him. Yesterday, he got bent out of shape at a PBS reporter telling her that "you people" need to be "nice." (She wanted to ask him about him encouraging Vice President Mike Pence to avoid calling governors if they're not appreciative of the work being done by the federal government. "If they don't treat you right, I don't call," he had said.)
- Gov. Greg Abbott lost his mind yesterday suspending various statutes which mandate that people in jail be released on a personal recognizance bond when the government drops the ball and misses easily met deadlines. Those laws have worked for decades but with the stroke of a pen he thinks he can change them. Anyone want to tell him about art. I, § 28 of the Texas Constitution?
- Oh, I forgot to mention that Trump is very pleased with his ratings while people are dying.
- And you guys think I'm the one who needs a proofreader?
- Out near southern Wise County, Kenneth Copeland was doing some serious casting out of the coronavirus. This is really amazing to watch. (And I can't get over his sidekick who serves as the Silk to Copeland's Diamond. "Oh, yeah, that's right.")
- Jerry Falwell Jr. could use Copeland's prayers right now.
- Never thought I'd see this in America. It's like an old Czechoslovakian checkpoint.
- That's a wild picture. The Pope in an empty St. Peter's Square.
- Mrs. LL was talking on the phone with the Senior-In-College-Not-In-The-House on Saturday when I saw this happening live. "You might want to tell her there's a tornado not very far away." She's in Searcy, Arkansas. Video.
- Messenger: Above the Fold
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