Friday Feeling

President Trump announced yesterday that flags on federal buildings will be lowered to half-staff over Memorial Day weekend to honor coronavirus victims and members of the military.  

#FocusOnTheTrumpDeathToll100K is trending this morning.

A photo of Trump wearing a mask during private tour at MI Ford ventilator plant was reportedly taken by a Ford employee. When asked why he didn’t wear the mask during the entire visit, Trump responded, "I had one on before. I wore one in this back area. But I didn't want to give the press the pleasure of seeing it." 

In the spirit of sharing softer news and/or silly vibes:

• Frog in Costa Rica looks a lot like Kermit from the Muppets. 
• Police arrested melon head robbers wearing masks made from watermelons.
• Stephen Colbert shared funny and sincere parenting quotes.

Daily pandemic update:  

India registered its biggest single-day jump in coronavirus cases with 6,000 new infections. Russia reported 150 new deaths, a record daily rise.  Aljazeera.com timeline

22 May 2020	Cases		Deaths		Recovered
12:37 GMT*	Yesterday	Today	Yesterday	Today	Yesterday	Today
World	5,113,706	5,221,571	330,361	335,203	2,039,698	2,098,615
US	1,593,429	1,621,669	94,963	96,377	370,971	382,244
NY	364,249	366,357	28,758	28,885	63,007	63,131
CT	39,017	39,208	3,529	3,582	6,264	6,264
NC	20,261	21,220	726	745	11,637	11,637

*Documenting time of day because real time data updates continuously.
Tracking specific states:  NY is US epicenter. Son Reid lives in CT. I live in NC. 
Worldometers     Coronainusa     Starsexpress2020     https://ncov2019.live/

As of today, 20% of closed cases in the US resulted in death; 80% recovered. 
Globally 14% of closed cases resulted in death worldwide; 86% recovered. 
Currently 2% of all active cases are considered serious or critical.

A moment of silence for those we’ve lost to coronavirus, including the first 100 in the US.

In the news: 

• 21 children age 12 and younger tested positive for coronavirus in Robeson County SC. France recorded 70 new cases in schools after allowing children to resume classes. German parents are allowed to keep kids at home during pandemic.
• Among a sample of 2,044 social media users, 38% said politicians should be banned from platforms for spreading false or misleading coronavirus misinformation and 41% said offenders should be suspended.
• Bees thriving in UK during lock down. World carbon pollution has fallen 17%. 
• Biden scheduled multiple online virtual campaign events in the coming weeks.  His team is currently vetting potential VP running mates, aka the veepstakes.
• Children who may have multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) need immediate medical attention due to potential heart damage. Cases of kids with severe COVID syndrome continue to spike and spread. NC reported first case yesterday.
• China is expected to pass a law banning sedition, secession and subversion of the central government, a move criticized by opposition lawmakers in Hong Kong, human rights groups and the US State Dept. Meanwhile the Trump administration notified Congress that it had approved the sale of $180 million worth of torpedoes to Taiwan, though the deal is not yet final.
• Colleges and universities are dropping ACT and SAT standardized tests admissions requirement. Meanwhile actress Lori Loughlin and her clothing designer husband Mossimo Giannulli have decided to plead guilty to conspiracy charges in connection with securing fraudulent admission of their two daughters to attend the University of Southern California. Loughlin’s plea deal includes 2 months in prison, a $150,000 fine, and 2 years of supervised release with 100 hours of community service. Giannulli’s agreement states he will serve 5 months in prison, pay a $250,000 fine, and have 2 years of supervised release with 250 hours of community service. However, attorneys speculate there may be a chance of avoiding prison by serving their punishments at home due to the pandemic. 
• Comparison between NC and SC: testing, trends, and tracing by the numbers.
• Coronavirus appears to be changing as it spreads through NE China near Russia; patients taking longer to show symptoms and to recover.
• Cyclone Amphan survivors in Bangladesh and India are taking stock of devastation; 84 dead. 
• European Commission vowed to build a sustainable circular economy post-pandemic. 
• FBI said Corpus Christi TX shooting was terror-related; shooter dead, person of interest still at large. Suspect who shot 3 people in Glendale AZ Westgate entertainment district targeted couples; considered himself an involuntary celibate aka incel. CO Waffle House customer shot employee after being asked to wear a mask.
• Hispanic community in NC has more than half of Forsyth county's COVID-19 cases; residents at higher risk due in part to lack of resources. 
• Hong Kong has recorded zero COVID-19 deaths in care homes by employing strict infection control measures. 
• Meat shortages and price hikes may result in health benefits for Americans. 
• MI AG Dana Nessel advised Trump to wear a mask during visit to Ford ventilator plant, per current MI law. He briefly wore a mask during private tour but removed it before speaking in front of cameras. While in MI, Trump and Jared Kushner met with African American panelists including GOP senate candidate John James. Although the MI trip was a taxpayer-funded White House event, Trump gave rally-style speech including criticisms of Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden. Thursday Trump threatened to withhold federal funding from MI over absentee ballot applications yet Friday he approved emergency declaration in wake of MI flooding. 
• Pediatricians report significant decrease in standard childhood vaccinations during pandemic due to parents’ fears despite safety assurances from doctors. 
• Republicans for a New President will host a Convention on Founding Principles concurrent with the Republican National Convention August 24-27. The alternative event will be live in Charlotte, NC with virtual participation across America. Delegates will discuss organizing principles, vote for preferred candidates, and plan future actions.
• Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced a bill to extend federal orders for National Guard troops deployed to combat the coronavirus pandemic so they have the opportunity to serve 90 days and attain more extensive benefits. While the Trump administration weighs possibility of extending the deployment, Guard officials have told states to wrap up operations by June 10.  
• Scientist William Haseltine said careful tracing of infections and strict isolation measures could effectively control spread of coronavirus without a vaccine.
• Scientists found evidence of particles that defy our current understanding of physics. However, there is no evidence of a parallel universe where the rules of physics operate in reverse. 
• Trump withdrawing from 35-nation Open Skies treaty allowing unarmed surveillance flights over member countries.
• William Bryan Jr. recorded shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery; arrested on felony murder charge.
• Wilson Roosevelt Jerman, former White House butler who served 11 presidents, died of coronavirus. 

Following Kenny Beck’s lead to share a few signs of hope:

• 100-year-old British WWII veteran who raised nearly $40 million for charity will be knighted. 
• VA nurse traveled 35 hours by sailboat to treat coronavirus patients in NYC.

In my personal life…

Some of my women friends Zoom each Thursday in lieu of eating lunch together as they did before the pandemic. I joined them yesterday. It felt good to see and hear them all; comforting connections.

Last night I was up late working on the blog. Heard dogs howling outside in the distance which reminded me of a scene from one of my favorite films, Doctor Zhivago. Greg slept peacefully like Lara as I continued writing.

Friday morning brought a welcome break from the rain. It’s still too wet to putter in the garden though it’s nice to see the sun peaking through the clouds. As I took Minerva out for her first walk of the day, I noticed Bird Man Jack enjoying a neighborhood stroll for the first time this week. He said he was glad to be outside again after having been cooped up in his house during heavy rains. I’ve decided to give Mr. Guthrie the nickname Bird Man Jack because he raises and sells guinea fowl and pea hens. Hearing the birds cackle, caw and coo reminds me of my grandparent’s farm. Also reminds me a bit of Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood though Jack’s fowl are well behaved, no bother at all.  

Yesterday I ate the last leftover Scotch egg for breakfast followed by snacks of tangerines and chocolate covered peanuts in the afternoon. Greg ate leftover chicken and pasta for dinner. I wasn’t hungry so I skipped dinner last night.