COVID-19: Redemption

Worldometer:

The coronavirus COVID-19 is affecting 204 countries and territories around the world and 2 international conveyances: the Diamond Princess cruise ship harbored in Yokohama, Japan, and the Holland America's MS Zaandam cruise ship. The day is reset after midnight GMT+0. 

• Now
• Yesterday

Search:

Country, Other	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious, Critical	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop
World	1,074,290	+59,225	56,989	+3,822	226,063	791,238	38,973	137.8	7.3
USA	265,506	+20,629	6,786	+716	11,983	246,737	5,781	802	21
Italy	119,827	+4,585	14,681	+766	19,758	85,388	4,068	1,982	243
Spain	117,710	+5,645	10,935	+587	30,513	76,262	6,416	2,518	234
Germany	89,838	+5,044	1,230	+123	24,575	64,033	3,936	1,072	15
China	81,620	+31	3,322	+4	76,571	1,727	379	57	2

On the change of new deaths from yesterday:

DAY     China   Italy   USA   Spain   Germany   S. Korea  WORLD

Mar 23         9  601       85      435            24               7        1631

        24         7  743     100      489            33               9        1983

        25         4  683     129      454            47               6        1987

        26         6  712       73      498            33               5        1801

        27         5  919     182      569            71               8        2782

        28         3  889     241      674            52               5        2609
        29         5  756     169      624            49               8        2706
        30         4  812     271      537            19               6        2849
        31         5  837     439      553            37               4        3661
Apr    1         7  727     589      463            83               3        3239
          2         6  760     522      709          158               4        4183

          3         4  766     716      587          123               5        3822

Summary:

• World new deaths dropped.
• U.S. new deaths jumped to 716, highest ever for one day.
• Italy and Spain appear to have reached an apex.
• China and South Korea look good.
• Not good:
• UK had 684 new deaths.
• Philippines had 29 new deaths.
• Good:
• India apparently had no new deaths.
• Same for Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Cuba, Vietnam and Nigeria.

A few snippets from the media:

Dr Stavros Christoudis, surgeon, notes in China, their study noticed Blood type A had 20% increased risk of the severe form of Covid-19, type B was average risk, and type O had 1/3 less risk.  Hmm...I'm AB.  Regarding the Norovirus, blood type B people have less risk.  In the U.S.:

Interesting how widely blood type percentages vary by country.  While the U.S. has 44% O and 42% A, Aboriginal people have 61% O/39%A (and 0% AB--clearly, I'm not aboriginal), Ainu of Japan 17%O/32%A, Bororo from Brazil and Peruvian Indians (100% O) and Hawaiians (37% O/61% A).

■ The C.I.A. has warned that China is vastly understating its infections and that its count can’t be relied upon for models predicting the virus’s course, according to current and former intelligence officials.

Late-night comedy:  Dr. Anthony Fauci has been given added security after receiving death threats, and Stephen Colbert was concerned:  I’m not sure the best way to protect a 79-year-old man right now is to surround him with people 24 hours a day.

Watching Donald Trump and his cast on CNN, I noticed that Dr. Faici was not there.  Oh. Oh.  But from Rite-Aid:

COVID-19:

FLU:

COLD:

When COVID-19 cases hit a million a couple of days ago, the seasonal flu had afflicted about a billion.  Thus, there is ONLY one in a thousand novel coronavirus infections compared to the flu.  However, the mortality rate is at least ten times higher for COVID-19.  It should be noted that there are maybe 50 billion cold cases.  Thus, if you feel a little sick with a cold, the odds on you actually having the flu are one in 50, and for you to actually be infected with COVID-19 is one in 50,000.  If you're healthy, great!!!  Unless you're asymptomatic.  In summary:

Switching to my regular posting of the day, redemption is an act of atoning for a mistake.  Under the current circumstances about the COVID-19 Pandemic, in consideration of all the blood on his hands, also detailed by The New York Times, redemption is President Donald Trump's best chance to get re-elected.  Instead, he is continuing to be himself, doing what he always does and blasting anyone who ever mentions his blunders. Conservative columnist Johan Goldberg says this so well:

Still, it is beyond outrageous that Americans have to witness the spectacle of public-health officials’ tailoring their responses to questions so as to not offend the president. It’s the pandemic version of Kremlinology, parsing the statements of responsible officials for hints of the truth beneath the boilerplate praise and line-toeing. 

It’s even worse that we have to put up with a president who answers questions off the cuff without regard for facts or concern for how what he is saying might be misinterpreted. Add in his incessant dedication to petty grievances, partisan puffery, and chest-beating braggadocio, along with all of the obligatory obsequiousness he requires of officials who know far more than he does. Together, these things create an affirmative need to call out the nonsense, because the nonsense isn’t just annoying; it’s dangerous.

Sad, but also fabulous, for to have the leader of free world continue with his lunacy beyond 2020 would be perilous.

Actually, I was not planning to mention The Donald at all today.  I just wanted to re-acquaint you with The Shawshank Redemption.

Maybe it was the circumstances.  Perhaps I placed myself too much into the story, but this is the best second-look at a film I've experienced in a very long time.  Released in 1994--more than a quarter century--ago, Rotten Tomatoes bestowed 90% reviewers and 98% audiences ratings.

Consider my current situation.  I've been in quarantine for the longest period in my life.  I live in a facility, if you were a bit batty, that might pass for a penitentiary.  One of the occupants in the film (James Whitmore's character) was pardoned after 50-years in the clink, and soon committed suicide when he re-entered the free world.  This is what confinement can do for some.

The two main characters, played by Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, had been convicted for murder.  Robbins starred because Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise and Kevin Costner turned down the offer, with Freeman fending off Harrison Ford.  Brad Pitt was one of the convicts at first, but dropped out.  A former warden, active guards and released criminals played extras.  

The film did poorly when first released, but went on to win renowned status after being nominated for seven Academy Awards.  This R-rated film became a cultural phenomena.

The Mr. Everything who pushed this film using a novella by Stephen King's Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, paying $5,000, was Frank Darabont.  King later framed the check and returned it to Darabont with a note:  In case you ever need bail money. Love, Steve.  The film has been interpreted as being grounded in Christian mysticism.^[18] 

Andy is offered as a messianic, Christ-like figure, with Red describing him early in the film as having an aura that engulfs and protects him from Shawshank.^[19] The scene in which Andy and several inmates tar the prison roof can be seen as a recreation of the Last Supper, with Andy obtaining beer/wine for the twelve inmates/disciples as Freeman describes them as the "lords of all creation" invoking Jesus' blessing.^[20] Director Frank Darabont responded that this was not his deliberate intention,^[21] but he wanted people to find their own meaning in the film.^[22] The discovery of The Marriage of Figaro record is described in the screenplay as akin to finding the Holy Grail, bringing the prisoners to a halt, and causing the sick to rise up in their beds.^[23]  Zihuatanejo has been interpreted as an analogue for heaven or paradise.^[26]   

Haven't said much about the film itself, but you should find a way to watch it.  Especially if you feel confined by your shutdown status.

Why did I watch The Shawshank Redemption?  I thought it was playing in the 15 Craigside theater at 1PM yesterday.  I showed up with a mug of scotch (3 ounces of White Label and half an ounce of Port Charlotte, I like to mix things, especially martinis--because they always serve newly popped corn).  No one was in the theater.  So I went back to the notice.  It said, no crowding anymore, use Channel 900 on your TV screen.  Should you want to watch this film, TNT regular shows it and Netflix has it.

If you clicked on this blog site because you were looking forward to my posting on wines, please return tomorrow.  Then, a close look at how make eclectic martinis.

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