COVID Update we 1-31-2021

 

COVID 19 update 26,105,096 total cases, 439,412 deaths. New cases, 1,057,203, a decrease of, 176,724, -14% . 23,231 deaths last week an increase of, 523, 2%. Deaths per day, 1,455 since WE 4-19. Up431 per day from last week. Deaths/day WE 1-31, 3,143. An increase of 86/day. Six states still account for 25.941% of cases and 31% of deaths: NY, NJ, CT, CA, MA, WA. TX and FL 4,076,498 16% of cases and 63,455 deaths, 15%. It is the 4th leading cause of death in the US. Death rate versus known cases, US infection rate, 1.969%, mortality rate, .1265%. States with the biggest increase over 10% from previous week: CA, AL and HI. accounts for an increase of 961 mortalities. US accounts for 25.429% of known cases and 19,779% of mortalities, worldwide. Comparison to other countries mortalities to population: England .1584%, Italy .1465%, Bosnia .1417%, US .1265%, Mexico, .1263%, Peru .1257%,  Spain .1248%,  France .1159%, Brazil .1069%, Columbia .1066%. * Last week I had a mistake on Libya’s numbers, that’s why you don’t see it listed. My apologies. Sweden that didn’t shut down .1125%. Of the developed countries, Australia is holding steady with no new mortalities reported at 908. They’ve lost one person since qw-11-29-2020. These numbers come from the CDC and John Hopkins.

 

          Why do I post these numbers? Because I don’t buy into sensational headlines from any new source. I chose not to live in fear from what some bobblehead anchor wants to spout off. Many times through our current crisis I have heard glaring and contradictory misinformation from supposed, informed media sources. In fact, a friend sent over a video of the White House Press Corp meeting and they were making a comparison of COVID to flu and the infection rate. It was difficult to identify those caught talking, but while listening to them, I could only shake my head and wonder, what numbers are they looking at? A conspiracy theorist would jump up and down and say, “I told you so.” I’m not one of them. I don’t rely on sound clips or short takes to disseminate an opinion. One must look at all available information then make a determination.   

          US recovery rate of those testing positive is 98.34%.

There is some good news, to a degree: NY had a drop of 2% new cases per week, CA, TX and FL had a decrease 1%,

 

          An interesting observation. Before the November election, mortaility rates steadily declining from 4,903/week we 4-19 to 1,094 we 11-9. Since then it has been on the rise each week to 1455/ week an increase of 356.day. On the other side of the coin, new cases have been dramatically dropping since WE 1-10. A drop of 720,416 new cases. That is excellent news. I understand hospitalizations vary on the patient and underlying conditions, but by the numbers one would think the mortality rate number should also be declining.

Electric versus Combustion

 

Rather than post on another person’s page, I’ll take the liberty to discuss the issue here. Electric cars and their future. In previous article I’ve addressed that mankind is always advancing. I have no problem with technologies phasing out current ones, its what man has done since the evolution of time. However, one didn’t replace the other overnight until the technology was perfected. EX: horse-horseless carriage.

 

What prompts this article is one person made the comment that by 2035 the cost of gas would be $0.00. That would be like saying, “when cars replace horses, the cost of a horse would be…Zero?” To the equestrian and ranchers out there, how many horses are free? Are your stables, feed, saddles, etc. free? Let me take a guess and say, “no, they are not.” Fair enough? The same is going to be true with EV’s versus combustion vehicles.

 

The average cost of an electric car is $81,800.00. Drop out the high-end Porsche Taycan and the Karma GS-6 and you arrive at $54,945. That’s still on the pricey side for many people. Know what you aren’t seeing on the current list of available models? Pick-ups. Cars are nice but pick-up trucks are part of the backbone of the working man in the United States. Ford is planning on releasing one in 2020 but it will still be a supplement to its gas/diesel engine-hybrid. As a truck owner and a thirty-five-year career in construction, while the auto manufactures are concentrating on mileage, we are more concerned with power and performance. Most of our sites are rugged terrain and we expect our vehicles to perform; pulling trailers, hauling loads, pulling out of mud, towing other vehicles, etc. MPH or Volt is a secondary thought. I’ll also add in service trucks and construction equipment. These are both gas and diesel operated. See those being phased out in the next fifteen years? Perhaps Note: Caterpillar does have some hybrids working right now and the only fully electric machine is a mini excavator but it has to have a power supply and only used in doors. This is progress, but then they’ve been working on it for the last twenty years just like companies have been working on solar technology since 1976. It doesn’t happen overnight, yet that is what our government is forcing down our throats.  

 

What will happen as engineers, physics and mathematicians solve daunting problems, spurring on new technologies, it will spawn new industries and result in a plethora of new jobs and opportunities, but not overnight.  

 

And what of the old car collectors? Think men like Tim Allen or Jay Leno are going to scrap their fine collections? Think they won’t need to buy gas for those beautiful vehicles we and our parents grew up with? Yeah, no. And what do you think that gallon of gas will cost, since production will be way down, $10, $15 or even $30 a gallon or higher? For many people who can’t afford an electric car or gas, what will they do?  I guess they’ll be walking.

 

Men like Musk, Edison, Tesla, Bell, Wright and women such as Beasley, Anderson, Bentz and Wakefield will always be around and perform great achievements. They are unique individuals always reaching for the stars and wondering how to do it better. They didn’t rely on governments to tell them, “hey, you need to do this and now and how.”  Civilization will move forward when government gets out of the way of the natural progressing.

 

The price of gas will never hit $0.00 a gallon! Like horses, there will be still a demand.

 

Let us not forget about air travel and military vehicles?  Now, tell me again when gas is going to $0.00 a gallon?

Why is the National Guard still in DC?

 

Why are 10,000 National Guardsman still occupying DC? Why isn't the press asking these questions? Are not the 2300 Capitol Police and 3844 members of the DC police available to maintain safety? The media railed about the military parade Trump wanted to have, citing how much it would cost and denouncing what they called, a wave of frightening "Nationalism." Why is this okay? The minimum cost for the Guard since Inauguration day is $23.004 milllion. Add that to the incurred cost of a normal ceremony and the additional funds for the 25, 0000 that were deployed, the cost is over $200 million. This doesn't take into account those cities that called up additional officers to protect state capitols. Hell, after 911, Bush Jr didn't ring DC with troops, did he. And remember, the Pentagon was hit. What the media did focus on was a small clip of him being relayed the news while reading to school children in Florida and then ridiculing him because in their words, "he went into hiding." Instead of focusing on the attack, they decided to demean and blame him for his failure to keep Americans safe. Was NY shut down and ringed with troops? No. I've read the current terrorists warning the DHS issued yesterday.

Here are the bullet points form the directive:

• Throughout 2020, Domestic Violent Extremists (DVEs) targeted individuals with opposing views engaged in First Amendment-protected, non-violent protest activity.  DVEs motivated by a range of issues, including anger over COVID-19 restrictions, the 2020 election results, and police use of force have plotted and on occasion carried out attacks against government facilities. 
• Long-standing racial and ethnic tension—including opposition to immigration—has driven DVE attacks, including a 2019 shooting in El Paso, Texas that killed 23 people.
• DHS is concerned these same drivers to violence will remain through early 2021 and some DVEs may be emboldened by the January 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. to target elected officials and government facilities.
• DHS remains concerned that Homegrown Violent Extremists (HVEs) inspired by foreign terrorist groups, who committed three attacks targeting government officials in 2020, remain a threat.
• Threats of violence against critical infrastructure, including the electric, telecommunications and healthcare sectors, increased in 2020 with violent extremists citing misinformation and conspiracy theories about COVID-19 for their actions.  
• DHS, as well as other Federal agencies and law enforcement partners will continue to take precautions to protect people and infrastructure across the United States.
• DHS remains committed to preventing violence and threats meant to intimidate or coerce specific populations on the basis of their religion, race, ethnicity, identity or political views.
• DHS encourages state, local, tribal, and territorial homeland security partners to continue prioritizing physical security measures, particularly around government facilities, to protect people and critical infrastructure.

            Talk about a broad scope! Almost puts the Patriot Act to shame.

            One question, where was this during the summer riots in Portland, Seattle, LA, Dallas, Jacksonville, Minneapolis, NY, St. Louis and other cities were rioters killed, wounded, looted and burned these cities?  They didn’t. Why? And if you missed it, they are still rioting in Portland and Seattle. Don’t see that in the DHS list, do you?

Looking at the occupation of DC, I can’t help but be reminded of scenes from North Korea, USSR, East Germany, USSR, China and Nazi Germany.You draw you own conclusions.