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Day #271...aka V-Day (Vaccine Day)
Well, it's been a newsworthy day in NY and the US.
New York vs. the Corona Virus
Today, New York was the first state in the US to approve and vaccinate. The vaccines arrived last week, and they vetted and approved them before the FDA did. (New York learned it's lesson from February - don't wait on the Federal Government.)
So on the news - the Governor showed the first person to be vaccinated. Then, the Mayor showed people being vaccinated in New York City at NYU Langone, which is my primary provider and gynecologist. Langone's medical research division... apparently was involved in the Pfizer trials.
They asked the people questions, such as : have you had the flu shot, how recently, was it within 24 hours? Do you have any allergies to medications?
Have you had COVID? Do you have it? When were you last tested? When did you have it? Do you have AIDS? Etc..
Then gave the shot in the muscle or bicep of the upper arm. It's a muscle shot not an intravenous shot. And within twenty days, you get a second one.
This is being touted as the fastest mobilization of a vaccine in history.
In other news, NY's reached a 5.6% infection rate, and 8% in the Finger Lakes. NYC is still hovering at 4%, with Long Island at 5%. NYC has been hovering between 3-5% for the past three months now.
The Governor reiterated that at home gatherings are causing the spread of the virus. He begged people to stop inviting their friends over. (Hmmm, he's not getting very far. His own friends and family member keep doing it - he told his daughter not to. And his friends not to.)
The number of dead in NY is now at 35,600 or there abouts, coming close to 36,000. I'm betting we hit 40,000 by years end.
The numbers are kind of numbing.
The Governor was busy today - he attended the first vaccination, he filed the electoral votes for New York State, and he held a live briefing on the virus. New York is preparing itself to shut down again - but is trying desperately to prevent it. (We've not completely shut down since we began re-opening in June.) I think it will if we shoot above a 10% infection rate. We're currently at a 5.96% infection rate state-wide.
The Reporter's asked him about the nitwit who tweeted over the weekend that he'd sexually harrassed and bullied her. I'd have believed it - if she'd reported this when it happened, through channels and not via Twitter. Doing it on Twitter connotes a political agenda - and troll behavior. Also, it's a bit convenient that it is now. I don't believe the stuff about Hunter Biden for the same reasons. Also even if it were true? Convict and imprison Trump and his entire administration, along with all of his relations first - because honestly? They make everyone else look like veritable saints in comparison.
Anyhow two Reporters asked him about it at the briefing. The Governor's retort was simply put: "While I applaud people for coming forward on these sorts of things, and worked hard to make it possible, in this case? It's simply not true." And I believe him. I wouldn't have if it came out two years ago. Now, I do.
He also squelched rumors about the Attorney General post - stating that while he's flattered, he can't take it and doesn't want to. He promised New Yorkers that he didn't have an agenda. That he wasn't running for a political post. That he's sole job was to be Governor of New York and do the job that New Yorkers had elected him to do. To do otherwise would break their trust - and make everything he says seem like an agenda or politics as usual. And that could have deadly consequences right now. [I kept telling folks that - that there was no way he could take it right now and still keep the faith of his constituents. I'm relieved. We can't afford to lose him right now - we need him.]
New York has three major challenges - getting people vaccinated, keeping the virus under control, and convincing congress to give them 15 Billion.
He explained that problem. Taxes don't help - you can't raise enough. Laying people off is detrimental on multiple fronts. And cutting services - really hurts the state and the economy. We can't go bankrupt. He knows we'll get something - the Federal Government has to fund us, if it doesn't fund the States - and the States go bankrupt, so too, does the US. His explanation was fascinating. Watching him this year has been like getting a crash course on governance. It took me back to my legislative and administrative law school courses. Also, it helped me to understand him better and why he does what he does. As a result, I no longer hate him, appreciate what he's done, and am grateful that I chose to vote for him.
The US vs. the Corona Virus
While it is V-Day and we have a vaccine, which everyone states is effective, the US is losing its battle against the virus. We now have a little over 300,000 deaths. I'm thinking at this rate, we'll hit 500,000 by February.
Cases? We have a little over 16 million. We're leading the world in cases and deaths. The closest countries are India, Russia, Brazil, and the UK in cases and deaths.
The Never-Ending US Election
I've no idea what the rest of the world must of think of this - except that after this year, the US is going to have problems playing electoral police elsewhere, just saying.
The 538 electoral delegates met and filed their votes. They televised New York's casting of votes on FB and NY1.
So that's done. Now all that is left is the official counting in Congress. While it is possible for Congress to object, it's unlikely and kind of futile, since the Democrats hold a majority in one of the houses, and almost one in the other. And if the Republicans object they could end up with a stain, a permanent one, on their political record - which could result in them not being re-elected.
What it does do is - bring up once again the problematic nature of the electoral college. And that it may well be time to do away with it and go with the popular vote. If this is the case - that would hurt the Republican Party and the rural areas, who are mostly Republican, and would find themselves with less of a voice. (They kind of deserve it.)
I honestly think that Trump is very close to taking the Republican Party down with him.
Oh almost forgot to mention...the US Attorney General William Barr has stepped down or rather resigned today. (If you've seen the Trial of the Chicago 7 - you'll note that Attorney General's usually resign prior to the new regime, it's considered an act of courtesy. LBJ's didn't for Nixon's, and that's the reason the new guy went after the 7 - to embarrass the previous attorney general, it kind of back-fired on him.) Barr chose to resign after he told Trump that he lost the election and had no grounds to fight it.
It rained most of the day today - but cleared around four, so this picture works. I took a brief walk to the pharmacy and back - to get heartburn meds. I had severe heartburn last night and needed something.
I think my body is telling me to stop eating chocolate, pizza, potatoe chips and vodka.
Getting old sucks, just saying.
Wrapped another gift my mother sent me - it's shoes - which I requested. I've no idea what they look like though, so I wrapped them. I now have a rather pretty little christmas decoration next to the television set. Three wrapped presents and small ceramic tree on top of them. They are technically under the Christmas Tree, it's just a very tiny tree...kind of dwarfed by the presents. I have varying sizes of small Christmas trees. Some people buy one huge tree, I buy a lot of small ones that I can tuck away in a closet.
Also the wrapping paper is blue and white just like my brother's wrapped gift to me - so apparently I've a theme going. Everything is the same color. And it has white sun bursts on it. I figure it looks Christmasy enough, without going over the top.
I've decided not to stress over crazy workplace - I've no control over what it does. Stressing over it is kind of a waste. Also I get to get away from it for two solid weeks. Be nice to get away from COVID, NYC, and my apartment, but we can't have everything. In 2020...you take what you can get.
Oh - we have a huge winter storm coming. But alas, the snow will most likely be gone by next Monday. OTOH - if I were to leave for Hilton Head this year, I'd be leaving this week - Thursday or Friday, and the huge storm is arriving on Wed and bleeding into Thursday. I'd have gotten my flight cancelled or delayed.
Anyhow...good night and good luck, as they say..
New York vs. the Corona Virus
Today, New York was the first state in the US to approve and vaccinate. The vaccines arrived last week, and they vetted and approved them before the FDA did. (New York learned it's lesson from February - don't wait on the Federal Government.)
So on the news - the Governor showed the first person to be vaccinated. Then, the Mayor showed people being vaccinated in New York City at NYU Langone, which is my primary provider and gynecologist. Langone's medical research division... apparently was involved in the Pfizer trials.
They asked the people questions, such as : have you had the flu shot, how recently, was it within 24 hours? Do you have any allergies to medications?
Have you had COVID? Do you have it? When were you last tested? When did you have it? Do you have AIDS? Etc..
Then gave the shot in the muscle or bicep of the upper arm. It's a muscle shot not an intravenous shot. And within twenty days, you get a second one.
This is being touted as the fastest mobilization of a vaccine in history.
In other news, NY's reached a 5.6% infection rate, and 8% in the Finger Lakes. NYC is still hovering at 4%, with Long Island at 5%. NYC has been hovering between 3-5% for the past three months now.
The Governor reiterated that at home gatherings are causing the spread of the virus. He begged people to stop inviting their friends over. (Hmmm, he's not getting very far. His own friends and family member keep doing it - he told his daughter not to. And his friends not to.)
The number of dead in NY is now at 35,600 or there abouts, coming close to 36,000. I'm betting we hit 40,000 by years end.
The numbers are kind of numbing.
The Governor was busy today - he attended the first vaccination, he filed the electoral votes for New York State, and he held a live briefing on the virus. New York is preparing itself to shut down again - but is trying desperately to prevent it. (We've not completely shut down since we began re-opening in June.) I think it will if we shoot above a 10% infection rate. We're currently at a 5.96% infection rate state-wide.
The Reporter's asked him about the nitwit who tweeted over the weekend that he'd sexually harrassed and bullied her. I'd have believed it - if she'd reported this when it happened, through channels and not via Twitter. Doing it on Twitter connotes a political agenda - and troll behavior. Also, it's a bit convenient that it is now. I don't believe the stuff about Hunter Biden for the same reasons. Also even if it were true? Convict and imprison Trump and his entire administration, along with all of his relations first - because honestly? They make everyone else look like veritable saints in comparison.
Anyhow two Reporters asked him about it at the briefing. The Governor's retort was simply put: "While I applaud people for coming forward on these sorts of things, and worked hard to make it possible, in this case? It's simply not true." And I believe him. I wouldn't have if it came out two years ago. Now, I do.
He also squelched rumors about the Attorney General post - stating that while he's flattered, he can't take it and doesn't want to. He promised New Yorkers that he didn't have an agenda. That he wasn't running for a political post. That he's sole job was to be Governor of New York and do the job that New Yorkers had elected him to do. To do otherwise would break their trust - and make everything he says seem like an agenda or politics as usual. And that could have deadly consequences right now. [I kept telling folks that - that there was no way he could take it right now and still keep the faith of his constituents. I'm relieved. We can't afford to lose him right now - we need him.]
New York has three major challenges - getting people vaccinated, keeping the virus under control, and convincing congress to give them 15 Billion.
He explained that problem. Taxes don't help - you can't raise enough. Laying people off is detrimental on multiple fronts. And cutting services - really hurts the state and the economy. We can't go bankrupt. He knows we'll get something - the Federal Government has to fund us, if it doesn't fund the States - and the States go bankrupt, so too, does the US. His explanation was fascinating. Watching him this year has been like getting a crash course on governance. It took me back to my legislative and administrative law school courses. Also, it helped me to understand him better and why he does what he does. As a result, I no longer hate him, appreciate what he's done, and am grateful that I chose to vote for him.
The US vs. the Corona Virus
While it is V-Day and we have a vaccine, which everyone states is effective, the US is losing its battle against the virus. We now have a little over 300,000 deaths. I'm thinking at this rate, we'll hit 500,000 by February.
Cases? We have a little over 16 million. We're leading the world in cases and deaths. The closest countries are India, Russia, Brazil, and the UK in cases and deaths.
The Never-Ending US Election
I've no idea what the rest of the world must of think of this - except that after this year, the US is going to have problems playing electoral police elsewhere, just saying.
The 538 electoral delegates met and filed their votes. They televised New York's casting of votes on FB and NY1.
So that's done. Now all that is left is the official counting in Congress. While it is possible for Congress to object, it's unlikely and kind of futile, since the Democrats hold a majority in one of the houses, and almost one in the other. And if the Republicans object they could end up with a stain, a permanent one, on their political record - which could result in them not being re-elected.
What it does do is - bring up once again the problematic nature of the electoral college. And that it may well be time to do away with it and go with the popular vote. If this is the case - that would hurt the Republican Party and the rural areas, who are mostly Republican, and would find themselves with less of a voice. (They kind of deserve it.)
I honestly think that Trump is very close to taking the Republican Party down with him.
Oh almost forgot to mention...the US Attorney General William Barr has stepped down or rather resigned today. (If you've seen the Trial of the Chicago 7 - you'll note that Attorney General's usually resign prior to the new regime, it's considered an act of courtesy. LBJ's didn't for Nixon's, and that's the reason the new guy went after the 7 - to embarrass the previous attorney general, it kind of back-fired on him.) Barr chose to resign after he told Trump that he lost the election and had no grounds to fight it.
It rained most of the day today - but cleared around four, so this picture works. I took a brief walk to the pharmacy and back - to get heartburn meds. I had severe heartburn last night and needed something.
I think my body is telling me to stop eating chocolate, pizza, potatoe chips and vodka.
Getting old sucks, just saying.
Wrapped another gift my mother sent me - it's shoes - which I requested. I've no idea what they look like though, so I wrapped them. I now have a rather pretty little christmas decoration next to the television set. Three wrapped presents and small ceramic tree on top of them. They are technically under the Christmas Tree, it's just a very tiny tree...kind of dwarfed by the presents. I have varying sizes of small Christmas trees. Some people buy one huge tree, I buy a lot of small ones that I can tuck away in a closet.
Also the wrapping paper is blue and white just like my brother's wrapped gift to me - so apparently I've a theme going. Everything is the same color. And it has white sun bursts on it. I figure it looks Christmasy enough, without going over the top.
I've decided not to stress over crazy workplace - I've no control over what it does. Stressing over it is kind of a waste. Also I get to get away from it for two solid weeks. Be nice to get away from COVID, NYC, and my apartment, but we can't have everything. In 2020...you take what you can get.
Oh - we have a huge winter storm coming. But alas, the snow will most likely be gone by next Monday. OTOH - if I were to leave for Hilton Head this year, I'd be leaving this week - Thursday or Friday, and the huge storm is arriving on Wed and bleeding into Thursday. I'd have gotten my flight cancelled or delayed.
Anyhow...good night and good luck, as they say..