Monthly Archives: July 2020
Do As I Say, Not As I Do ?
I mentioned before that there seemed to be a lot of funny math going on with how some states are counting WuFlu cases, which may be contributing at least in some part, to the recent ‘spike’ in new cases. But it seems like the problem goes all the way to the top.
‘How Could the CDC Make That Mistake?’
According to this article, even the CDC has been co-mingling both WuFlu cases and Antibody tests. In other words, they are adding together both the test for people who have the flu presently, and people who have had the flu in the past,
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Ashish Jha, the K. T. Li Professor of Global Health at Harvard and the director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, told us when we described what the CDC was doing. “How could the CDC make that mistake? This is a mess.”
This is not merely a technical error. States have set quantitative guidelines for reopening their economies based on these flawed data points.
Several states—including Pennsylvania, the site of one of the country’s largest outbreaks, as well as Texas, Georgia, and Vermont—are blending the data in the same way. Virginia likewise mixed viral and antibody test results until last week, but it reversed course and the governor apologized for the practice after it was covered by the Richmond Times-Dispatch and The Atlantic. Maine similarly separated its data on Wednesday; Vermont authorities claimed they didn’t even know they were doing this.
So maybe the recent ‘spike’ is not as much of one as is thought, but just another case of ‘bad data’.
Finishing up, Dr. Fauci, who has flipped back and forth a couple of times on whether or not masks are a good idea, now says everyone should wear a mask all the time, even outside.
But then this past Tuesday after he testified before Congress, wearing a mask, of course, this happened as soon as he thought the cameras were off him.
Do as I say, not as I do?
Another in our Where We Were 11 Years Ago Today series.
July 1, 2009
George Washington and Benedict Arnold…
Today Jan and I visited Colonial Williamsburg, and although it was interesting, it was also disappointing in a way.
A lot of the buildings are closed on different days so it’s not possible to see everything on one visit. So, many buildings were closed to us today. Plus, only a few buildings are set up to be toured.
The best one we saw was the home of Peyton Reynolds. Peyton Reynolds was the first President of the Continental Congress and the house dates from the 1720’s.
The interesting thing about this next picture is the table is not fully set. According to our guide, the table would be set with 1 meat dish for each person. So with a table set for six there should be six meat dishes on the table, not just three.
And there should also be six ‘heavy’ desserts on the table. I’m not sure what constitutes a ‘heavy’ dessert.
Is it by ‘weight’, or how it sits in your stomach after you eat it?
Also interesting is the windmill. It’s known as a ‘single post’ windmill, because the single post pivot allows the windmill to be turned into the wind for better performance. This windmill was used as a grist mill to grind grain and the blades would have been covered with cloth to catch the wind.
We also got to watch a trial reenactment at the Williamsburg Courthouse.
One interesting thing was that the audience got to participate as jurors, plaintiffs, and defendants.
I tried to get Jan to pose in the stocks, but I think she was afraid I wouldn’t let her out.
Also interesting was the Williamsburg Magazine and Armory surrounding by the barricade fence to help protect it from attack.
This building was where the militia’s guns and powder were stored in case of attack.
The Virginia Colony Governor’s House
The Bruton Parish Church was interesting, also. It is one of the oldest Episcopalian Churches in America and services have been held here continuously since 1715.
You could also take rides in authentic-looking carriages.
There were also actors portraying famous and not so famous people. Here we have Benedict Arnold, pre-traitor.
Many people don’t realize Benedict Arnold was actually a Revolutionary War hero and won many battles for the Colonies before he went over to the Loyalist side. For what seemed to be political reasons, and perhaps jealousy, he was repeatedly passed over for promotion. This perceived injustice ate at him until he arranged to turn West Point over to the British. But his plan was discovered and he barely escaped capture by George Washington.
And speaking of George Washington, he was there also, along with his aide de camp, the Marquis de Lafayette. One of the children present asked him if he was the President. He said he had no idea what that was, and it didn’t sound like something he’d want to do.
Most of the Colonial Williamsburg experience seems to consist of walking around looking at the old buildings. I think Jan and I both were expecting more.
And when you consider that for the same price we could have gone to Busch Gardens – Williamsburg, I mean, Colonial Williamsburg doesn’t even have any roller coasters to terrorize Jan on.
Bummer!!!
Tomorrow we’re going to see Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Battlefield.
Maybe they’ll have roller coasters.
Thought For The Day:
Never threaten anyone. It might ruin the surprise.
