Afghanistan

 Uncle Joe really screwed the pooch on this one. Maybe there wasn't much he could do to keep the situation from deteriorating but calling it a success, as he did today, is just total bullshit.

Calling a trash dump a bed of roses doesn't make it so.

The Corona Virus, August 31, 2021

 There are currently 39,948,529 reported cases in the US and 652,914 deaths.

US Cases

Dec  28-Jan 3 -- 1,484,497,  7.7%

Jan   4 -Jan 10-- 1,766,398   8.5%

Jan 11 -Jan 17-- 1,559,170    6.9%

Jan 18 -Jan 24-- 1,206,819   5.0%

Jan 25 -Jan 31-- 1,049,667   4.1%

Feb  1 -  Feb  7--    855,743   3.2%

Feb  8 - Feb 14--   645,973   2.4%

Feb 15 - Feb 21--  476,821   1.7%

Feb 22 - Feb 28-- 487,627   1.7%

Mar 1 ---Mar 7  -- 414,986   1.4%

Mar 8 --Mar 14 -- 371,939   1.3%

Mar 15--Mar 21 -- 385,590  1.3%

Mar 22-Mar 28-- 429,180  1.4%

Mar 29-April 4-- 439,617   1.4%

April 5-April 11-- 480,732  1.6

April 12-April 18-500,013  1.6%

April 19-April 25-442,584  1.4%

April 26-May 2-   338,093  1.0%

May 3  --May 9-   280,293  0.9%

May 10--May 16-  227,441   0.7%

May 17--May 23-  175,653   0.5%

May 24--May 30- 138,104   0.4%

June 1 --June 6--   99,209

June 7 -June 13--  86,318

June 14-June 20-- 65,265

June 21-June 27--64,745

June 28-July 4----82,898

July 5---July 11---100,556

July 12--July 18 --145,510

July 19--Jul 25  ---235,732

July 26--Aug 1  ---404,539

Aug 2---Aug 8  ---635,340

Aug 9---Aug 15  --912,812

Aug 16--Aug 22-1,067.073

Aug 23--Aug 29-1,094,513

Another million case week.

Maybe booster shots aren't approved except for the immuno-compromised. It's pretty confused out there. Somebody needs to step up and clarify the situation.

'New Jersey Cases

Dec  28 -Jan 3 ----30,821   6.7%,   9.9%

Jan    4 -Jan 10 --- 36,012   7.3%, 10.1%

Jan   11 -Jan 17 --- 37,043   7.0%,  8.3%

Jan   18 -Jan 24 -- 29,905   5.3%,  8.7%

Jan   25 -Jan 31 -- 28,539   4.8%,  7.4%

Feb  1 -  Feb  7---   21,470   3.4%,   8.1%

Feb  8 -  Feb 14--- 20,186   3.1%,   6.4%

Feb 15 -  Feb 21--- 17,549   2.6%,   6.2%

Feb 22 - Feb 28--  18,979   2.8%,   6.2%

Mar 1 ---Mar 7  --  19,214   2.7%,    5.3%

Mar 8 --Mar 14  -- 21,112   2.9%,    9.5%

Mar 15--Mar 21  -- 22,939 3.1%,    5.4%

Mar 22-Mar 28  -- 24,483 3.2%,    6.7%

Mar 29-April 4  -- 25,535  3.2%,    7.8%

April 5-April 11  -- 22,045 2.7%,    6.7%

April 12-April 18--21,467  2.6%,    6.6%

April 19-April 25--16,367  1.9%,    5.0%

April 26-May 2--- 10,824  1.2%,    3.8%

May 3--May 10---   5,283  0.6%,    2.0%

May 10-May 16---  2,413   0.3%     1.3%

May 17-May 23---  2,934  0.3%     1.1%

May 24-May 30--  1,620   0.2%     ??%

June 1 --June 6--- 1,400 

June 7 -June 13--  1,177

June 14-June 21-- 1,253

June 22-June 27--1,254

June 28-July 4----1,172

July 5---July 11--- 1,546

July 12--July 18--  2,598

July 19--Jul 25  --- 4.354

July 26--Aug 1  ---  5,832

Aug 2---Aug 8  ---  8,344

Aug 9---Aug 15  --  9,932

Aug 16--Aug 22---10,779

Aug 23--Aug 29---11,691

New Jersey is basically back to where it was in early April.

Bergen County Cases

Dec  28 -Jan 3--- 2,717,  6.0% Dashboard New Cases = 2,715

Jan    4 -Jan 10---3,110,  6.4% Dashboard New Cases = 3,126

Jan   11 -Jan 17---3,266,  6.4% Dashboard New Cases = 3,413

Jan   18-Jan 24---2,858,  5.2% Dashboard New Cases =2,999

Jan   25-Jan 31---2,716,  4.7% Dashboard New Cases = 2,876

Feb  1 -  Feb  7--- 2,328,  3.9% Dashboard New Cases = 2,490

Feb  8 - Feb 14---2,085,  3.3% Dashboard New Cases = 2,185

Feb 15 - Feb 21-- 1,934,  3.0% Dashboard New Cases = 1,982

Feb 23 - Feb 22--2,244,  3.4% Dashboard New Cases = 2,335

Mar 1 ---Mar 7 --2,305,  3.3% Dashboard New Cases = 2,341

Mar 8 --Mar 14--2,399,  3.4% Dashboard New Cases = 2,434

Mar 15--Mar 21--2,664,  3.6% Dashboard New Cases = 2,690

Mar 22-Mar 28--2,770,  3.6% Dashboard New Cases = 2,856

Mar 29-April 4-- 2,806,  3.6% Dashboard New Cases =2,930

April 5-April 11-- 2,273,  2.8% Dashboard New Cases =2,474

April 12-April 18-1,902,  2.3% Dashboard New Cases =2,009

April 19-April 25-1,446,  1.9% Dashboard New Cases =1,503

April 26-May 2 --   802,  0.9% Dashboard New Cases =1,001

May 3---May 10 -- 693,  0.8% Dashboard New Cases = 809

May 10--May 16 -- 348,  0.4% Dashboard New Cases = 468

May 17--May 23 -- 246,  0.3% Dashboard New Cases = 329

May 24-May 30 -- 173,   0.2% Dashboard New Cases = 204

June 1 --June 6--   104

June 7 -June 13--   116

June 14-June 21--  123

June 22-June 27-- 147

June 28-July 4---- 152

July 5---July 11---  146

July 12--July 18  --267

July 19--Jul 25  --- 440

July 26--Aug 1  ---  619

Aug 2---Aug 8  ---  815

Aug 9---Aug 15  --  972

Aug 16--Aug 22--1,040

Aug 23--Aug 29--1,058

Bergen County was flat but at a pretty high level.

Not much on the home front. We are planning on going to the Broncos game so I learned how to download my tickets into Google Pay.

The Corona Virus, August 24, 2021

 There are currently 38,840,282 reported cases in the US and 643,541 deaths.

US Cases

Dec  28-Jan 3 -- 1,484,497,  7.7%

Jan   4 -Jan 10-- 1,766,398   8.5%

Jan 11 -Jan 17-- 1,559,170    6.9%

Jan 18 -Jan 24-- 1,206,819   5.0%

Jan 25 -Jan 31-- 1,049,667   4.1%

Feb  1 -  Feb  7--    855,743   3.2%

Feb  8 - Feb 14--   645,973   2.4%

Feb 15 - Feb 21--  476,821   1.7%

Feb 22 - Feb 28-- 487,627   1.7%

Mar 1 ---Mar 7  -- 414,986   1.4%

Mar 8 --Mar 14 -- 371,939   1.3%

Mar 15--Mar 21 -- 385,590  1.3%

Mar 22-Mar 28-- 429,180  1.4%

Mar 29-April 4-- 439,617   1.4%

April 5-April 11-- 480,732  1.6

April 12-April 18-500,013  1.6%

April 19-April 25-442,584  1.4%

April 26-May 2-   338,093  1.0%

May 3  --May 9-   280,293  0.9%

May 10--May 16-  227,441   0.7%

May 17--May 23-  175,653   0.5%

May 24--May 30- 138,104   0.4%

June 1 --June 6--   99,209

June 7 -June 13--  86,318

June 14-June 20-- 65,265

June 21-June 27--64,745

June 28-July 4----82,898

July 5---July 11---100,556

July 12--July 18 --145,510

July 19--Jul 25  ---235,732

July 26--Aug 1  ---404,539

Aug 2---Aug 8  ---635,340

Aug 9---Aug 15  --912,812

Aug 16--Aug 22-1,067.073

Back to over a million cases a week.

The FDA has "officially" approved the Pfizer vaccine. Isn't that nice to know? The CDC has approved booster shots eight months after your second shot.

'New Jersey Cases

Dec  28 -Jan 3 ----30,821   6.7%,   9.9%

Jan    4 -Jan 10 --- 36,012   7.3%, 10.1%

Jan   11 -Jan 17 --- 37,043   7.0%,  8.3%

Jan   18 -Jan 24 -- 29,905   5.3%,  8.7%

Jan   25 -Jan 31 -- 28,539   4.8%,  7.4%

Feb  1 -  Feb  7---   21,470   3.4%,   8.1%

Feb  8 -  Feb 14--- 20,186   3.1%,   6.4%

Feb 15 -  Feb 21--- 17,549   2.6%,   6.2%

Feb 22 - Feb 28--  18,979   2.8%,   6.2%

Mar 1 ---Mar 7  --  19,214   2.7%,    5.3%

Mar 8 --Mar 14  -- 21,112   2.9%,    9.5%

Mar 15--Mar 21  -- 22,939 3.1%,    5.4%

Mar 22-Mar 28  -- 24,483 3.2%,    6.7%

Mar 29-April 4  -- 25,535  3.2%,    7.8%

April 5-April 11  -- 22,045 2.7%,    6.7%

April 12-April 18--21,467  2.6%,    6.6%

April 19-April 25--16,367  1.9%,    5.0%

April 26-May 2--- 10,824  1.2%,    3.8%

May 3--May 10---   5,283  0.6%,    2.0%

May 10-May 16---  2,413   0.3%     1.3%

May 17-May 23---  2,934  0.3%     1.1%

May 24-May 30--  1,620   0.2%     ??%

June 1 --June 6--- 1,400 

June 7 -June 13--  1,177

June 14-June 21-- 1,253

June 22-June 27--1,254

June 28-July 4----1,172

July 5---July 11--- 1,546

July 12--July 18--  2,598

July 19--Jul 25  --- 4.354

July 26--Aug 1  ---  5,832

Aug 2---Aug 8  ---  8,344

Aug 9---Aug 15  --  9,932

Aug 16--Aug 22---10,779

New Jersey has popped back over 10,000 cases a week.

Bergen County Cases

Dec  28 -Jan 3--- 2,717,  6.0% Dashboard New Cases = 2,715

Jan    4 -Jan 10---3,110,  6.4% Dashboard New Cases = 3,126

Jan   11 -Jan 17---3,266,  6.4% Dashboard New Cases = 3,413

Jan   18-Jan 24---2,858,  5.2% Dashboard New Cases =2,999

Jan   25-Jan 31---2,716,  4.7% Dashboard New Cases = 2,876

Feb  1 -  Feb  7--- 2,328,  3.9% Dashboard New Cases = 2,490

Feb  8 - Feb 14---2,085,  3.3% Dashboard New Cases = 2,185

Feb 15 - Feb 21-- 1,934,  3.0% Dashboard New Cases = 1,982

Feb 23 - Feb 22--2,244,  3.4% Dashboard New Cases = 2,335

Mar 1 ---Mar 7 --2,305,  3.3% Dashboard New Cases = 2,341

Mar 8 --Mar 14--2,399,  3.4% Dashboard New Cases = 2,434

Mar 15--Mar 21--2,664,  3.6% Dashboard New Cases = 2,690

Mar 22-Mar 28--2,770,  3.6% Dashboard New Cases = 2,856

Mar 29-April 4-- 2,806,  3.6% Dashboard New Cases =2,930

April 5-April 11-- 2,273,  2.8% Dashboard New Cases =2,474

April 12-April 18-1,902,  2.3% Dashboard New Cases =2,009

April 19-April 25-1,446,  1.9% Dashboard New Cases =1,503

April 26-May 2 --   802,  0.9% Dashboard New Cases =1,001

May 3---May 10 -- 693,  0.8% Dashboard New Cases = 809

May 10--May 16 -- 348,  0.4% Dashboard New Cases = 468

May 17--May 23 -- 246,  0.3% Dashboard New Cases = 329

May 24-May 30 -- 173,   0.2% Dashboard New Cases = 204

June 1 --June 6--   104

June 7 -June 13--   116

June 14-June 21--  123

June 22-June 27-- 147

June 28-July 4---- 152

July 5---July 11---  146

July 12--July 18  --267

July 19--Jul 25  --- 440

July 26--Aug 1  ---  619

Aug 2---Aug 8  ---  815

Aug 9---Aug 15  --  972

Aug 16--Aug 22--1,040

Bergen County is back over a thousand cases a week.

We're going to pass on the Patriots preseason game as well. In the meantime my grandson is preparing to start Kindergarten and my daughter is preparing her classroom for the school year.

Trump Says Take the Vaccine

At a rally in Alabama Donald Trump told his supporters to take the Covid vaccine.

They booed him when he said that.

This whole idea that this is a "personal choice" and that no one should be able to "enforce their opinion on them" absolutely flabbergasts me.

These are the same people who want to tell women that they can't get an abortion.

I do not understand how getting a vaccination or wearing a mask is a violation of someone's freedom. Not only is it for their own good but it's for the good of everyone else as well.

Psychologists will be studying this case of mass hysteria for years to come. That's assuming anyone survives the next few years. 

Booster Shots

The official word is we'll be needing booster shots eight months after the second shot. We're now waiting for the FDA to approve this.

That's for Moderna and Pfizer. There's no word on Johnson & Johnson yet.

We got our second shot on March 2nd so we need the booster around the start of November.

I have no problem getting a booster shot. I just hope scheduling it isn't as big a zoo as scheduling the initial shots were.

The Corona Virus, August 17, 2021

There are currently 37,827,207 reported case in the US and 636,341 deaths.

US Cases

Dec  28-Jan 3 -- 1,484,497,  7.7%

Jan   4 -Jan 10-- 1,766,398   8.5%

Jan 11 -Jan 17-- 1,559,170    6.9%

Jan 18 -Jan 24-- 1,206,819   5.0%

Jan 25 -Jan 31-- 1,049,667   4.1%

Feb  1 -  Feb  7--    855,743   3.2%

Feb  8 - Feb 14--   645,973   2.4%

Feb 15 - Feb 21--  476,821   1.7%

Feb 22 - Feb 28-- 487,627   1.7%

Mar 1 ---Mar 7  -- 414,986   1.4%

Mar 8 --Mar 14 -- 371,939   1.3%

Mar 15--Mar 21 -- 385,590  1.3%

Mar 22-Mar 28-- 429,180  1.4%

Mar 29-April 4-- 439,617   1.4%

April 5-April 11-- 480,732  1.6

April 12-April 18-500,013  1.6%

April 19-April 25-442,584  1.4%

April 26-May 2-   338,093  1.0%

May 3  --May 9-   280,293  0.9%

May 10--May 16-  227,441   0.7%

May 17--May 23-  175,653   0.5%

May 24--May 30- 138,104   0.4%

June 1 --June 6--   99,209

June 7 -June 13--  86,318

June 14-June 20-- 65,265

June 21-June 27--64,745

June 28-July 4----82,898

July 5---July 11---100,556

July 12--July 18 --145,510

July 19--Jul 25  ---235,732

July 26--Aug 1  ---404,539

Aug 2---Aug 8  ---635,340

Aug 9---Aug 15  --912,812

Yes, I moved to Tuesday because the web site that I'm using for the national numbers appears to have a day lag because some states are only reporting every two days.

The CDC has announced booster shot for immuno-compromised folks starting immediately and the rumor is everyone will get a third shot two eight months after their last shot. That's for Pfizer. I'm not sure about Moderna or J&J.

New Jersey Cases
Dec  28 -Jan 3 ----30,821   6.7%,   9.9%

Jan    4 -Jan 10 --- 36,012   7.3%, 10.1%

Jan   11 -Jan 17 --- 37,043   7.0%,  8.3%

Jan   18 -Jan 24 -- 29,905   5.3%,  8.7%

Jan   25 -Jan 31 -- 28,539   4.8%,  7.4%

Feb  1 -  Feb  7---   21,470   3.4%,   8.1%

Feb  8 -  Feb 14--- 20,186   3.1%,   6.4%

Feb 15 -  Feb 21--- 17,549   2.6%,   6.2%

Feb 22 - Feb 28--  18,979   2.8%,   6.2%

Mar 1 ---Mar 7  --  19,214   2.7%,    5.3%

Mar 8 --Mar 14  -- 21,112   2.9%,    9.5%

Mar 15--Mar 21  -- 22,939 3.1%,    5.4%

Mar 22-Mar 28  -- 24,483 3.2%,    6.7%

Mar 29-April 4  -- 25,535  3.2%,    7.8%

April 5-April 11  -- 22,045 2.7%,    6.7%

April 12-April 18--21,467  2.6%,    6.6%

April 19-April 25--16,367  1.9%,    5.0%

April 26-May 2--- 10,824  1.2%,    3.8%

May 3--May 10---   5,283  0.6%,    2.0%

May 10-May 16---  2,413   0.3%     1.3%

May 17-May 23---  2,934  0.3%     1.1%

May 24-May 30--  1,620   0.2%     ??%

June 1 --June 6--- 1,400 

June 7 -June 13--  1,177

June 14-June 21-- 1,253

June 22-June 27--1,254

June 28-July 4----1,172

July 5---July 11--- 1,546

July 12--July 18--  2,598

July 19--Jul 25  --- 4.354

July 26--Aug 1  ---  5,832

Aug 2---Aug 8  ---  8,344

Aug 9---Aug 15  --  9,932

The New Jersey numbers are ugly as well but not as bad as places like Florida.

Bergen County Cases

Dec  28 -Jan 3--- 2,717,  6.0% Dashboard New Cases = 2,715

Jan    4 -Jan 10---3,110,  6.4% Dashboard New Cases = 3,126

Jan   11 -Jan 17---3,266,  6.4% Dashboard New Cases = 3,413

Jan   18-Jan 24---2,858,  5.2% Dashboard New Cases =2,999

Jan   25-Jan 31---2,716,  4.7% Dashboard New Cases = 2,876

Feb  1 -  Feb  7--- 2,328,  3.9% Dashboard New Cases = 2,490

Feb  8 - Feb 14---2,085,  3.3% Dashboard New Cases = 2,185

Feb 15 - Feb 21-- 1,934,  3.0% Dashboard New Cases = 1,982

Feb 23 - Feb 22--2,244,  3.4% Dashboard New Cases = 2,335

Mar 1 ---Mar 7 --2,305,  3.3% Dashboard New Cases = 2,341

Mar 8 --Mar 14--2,399,  3.4% Dashboard New Cases = 2,434

Mar 15--Mar 21--2,664,  3.6% Dashboard New Cases = 2,690

Mar 22-Mar 28--2,770,  3.6% Dashboard New Cases = 2,856

Mar 29-April 4-- 2,806,  3.6% Dashboard New Cases =2,930

April 5-April 11-- 2,273,  2.8% Dashboard New Cases =2,474

April 12-April 18-1,902,  2.3% Dashboard New Cases =2,009

April 19-April 25-1,446,  1.9% Dashboard New Cases =1,503

April 26-May 2 --   802,  0.9% Dashboard New Cases =1,001

May 3---May 10 -- 693,  0.8% Dashboard New Cases = 809

May 10--May 16 -- 348,  0.4% Dashboard New Cases = 468

May 17--May 23 -- 246,  0.3% Dashboard New Cases = 329

May 24-May 30 -- 173,   0.2% Dashboard New Cases = 204

June 1 --June 6--   104

June 7 -June 13--   116

June 14-June 21--  123

June 22-June 27-- 147

June 28-July 4---- 152

July 5---July 11---  146

July 12--July 18  --267

July 19--Jul 25  --- 440

July 26--Aug 1  ---  619

Aug 2---Aug 8  ---  815

Aug 9---Aug 15  --  972

Bergen County, despite high levels of vaccination, is still climbing at at pace with New Jersey as a whole.

As noted in another post we decided not to go to the Giants game. I went to my dentist today and he took impressions in preparation for the permanent bridge thingie.

Some Last Words on Lindell

 Now that Lindell's "symposium" is steaming wreckage I'd like to point out that it never made any sense to begin with.

Lindell claimed to have "captured packets" but in order to "capture packets" one needs a "sniffer" (which is an application or a device) attached to the network. In order to do that you need either (a) physical access to an IP port, server or router or (b) WIFI access to a wireless connection. 

There are four problems with Lindell's claim. First, someone would have had to "capture" the packets at the time communications were taking place. Packets are typically not stored. 

Second, the data would almost certainly be encrypted at layer 2, layer 7 or both. WIFI connections are almost always encrypted for obvious reasons. 

Third, even if Lindell had packet captures, he would have no way to demonstrate where they came from. There would be no chain of evidence. Anyone can simply create a packet. A simple program could create thousands of them with all sorts of "damning" content. 

Fourth, sniffing a network without permission is illegal. If Lindell had presented captured packets he would have been effectively admitting to a crime. Either for sniffing a network or for receiving illegal goods.

The Giants-Jets Game

 We're not going to the Giants game tonight. I decided with the virus running sort of wild and no vaccine or mask mandates at MetLife Stadium it wasn't worth it.

On a whim I put the tickets and parking pass up for sale at a reduced price and somebody bought them so someone intends to go.

I'm going to take a big loss on tickets this season unless something changes. I've already sold the Cowboys and Eagles games at about face value but I still have tickets for six regular season and one preseason game plus the prepaid parking passes.

Hopefully we'll get to some game this year but thing are not looking as hopeful as they were a couple of months back.

Mike Lindell's Cyber Symposium

 As far as I can Lindell's long ballyhooed Cyber Symposium has amounted to nothing beyond Lindell advertising a product or two.

He did have some computer screens up on the overhead projector but as far as I could tell they were just file directories.

One "participant" ranted that the main stream media needed to start reporting this stuff and stop fact checking. That probably tells about all you need to know about the quality of these people.

Buy hey, who knows? Perhaps Lindell's OBVIOUSLY waiting for the 11th hour in order to make a DRAMATIC revelation? ;-) 

Looking at the data dump (literally a data dump) he presented a while back it appears to consist of hex encoded IP packets. He could have gotten this stuff from anywhere. Hell I can encode an IP Packet that says something like: 

 “43 43 50 20 74 6F 20 44 6F 6D 69 6E 69 6F 6E 20 53 57 49 54 43 48 20 31 30 30 30 20 56 4F 54 45 53 20 66 72 6F 6D 20 54 72 75 6D 70 20 74 6F 20 42 69 64 65 6E” 

See EVIDENCE!!! ;-) 

The bad part is that no matter how much of a train wreck this “symposium” has been there will be millions of Trumpers convinced that Lindell proved that the election was stolen and they will be demanding action.

Lawsuits Against Trump Allies to Go Forward

 A federal judge has ruled that the Dominion lawsuits against Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell and the My Pillow Guy Mike Lindell for billions of dollars in defamation can go forward.

Giuliani and Powell had requested that the lawsuits be dismissed but that clearly ain't going to happen.

In the meantime, in Sioux Falls South Dakota, Mike Lindell's long awaited Cyber Symposium is under way.

Lindell has promised to present conclusive evidence that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump by the Chinese Communist Party and he then expects the SCOTUS, based upon his conclusive evidence, to reinstate Trump as president.

There are several problems here.

The first is even if Lindell did have conclusive and irrefutable evidence of his claims, the SCOTUS doesn't have the authority to do what he's claiming they're going to do.

The second is the way he claims to have gotten this evidence sounds impossible. He claims he obtained the routers used in the election and extracted the data proving fraud from them. That's not how routers work.

The final problem is it may not matter if Lindell's evidence make any sense or not because there are too many people so stupid, and who want this to be true so badly, that they will accept anything he says as conclusive evidence even if it's nonsense.

I hope he publishes the stuff because I would love to see it.

The Corona Virus, August 9, 2021

 There are currently 36,606,012 reported case in the US and 629,794 deaths.

US Cases

Dec  28-Jan 3 -- 1,484,497,  7.7%

Jan   4 -Jan 10-- 1,766,398   8.5%

Jan 11 -Jan 17-- 1,559,170    6.9%

Jan 18 -Jan 24-- 1,206,819   5.0%

Jan 25 -Jan 31-- 1,049,667   4.1%

Feb  1 -  Feb  7--    855,743   3.2%

Feb  8 - Feb 14--   645,973   2.4%

Feb 15 - Feb 21--  476,821   1.7%

Feb 22 - Feb 28-- 487,627   1.7%

Mar 1 ---Mar 7  -- 414,986   1.4%

Mar 8 --Mar 14 -- 371,939   1.3%

Mar 15--Mar 21 -- 385,590  1.3%

Mar 22-Mar 28-- 429,180  1.4%

Mar 29-April 4-- 439,617   1.4%

April 5-April 11-- 480,732  1.6

April 12-April 18-500,013  1.6%

April 19-April 25-442,584  1.4%

April 26-May 2-   338,093  1.0%

May 3  --May 9-   280,293  0.9%

May 10--May 16-  227,441   0.7%

May 17--May 23-  175,653   0.5%

May 24--May 30- 138,104   0.4%

June 1 --June 6--   99,209

June 7 -June 13--  86,318

June 14-June 20-- 65,265

June 21-June 27--64,745

June 28-July 4----82,898

July 5---July 11---100,556

July 12--July 18 --145,510

July 19--Jul 25  ---235,732

July 26--Aug 1  ---404,539

Aug 2---Aug 8  ---635,340

I'm not sure about these numbers because the website I've been using hasn't been terribly reliable recently. Regardless, the numbers are clearly skyrocketing and are probably higher than I'm showing. More and more places are instituting vaccine mandates. The CDC has promised a booster plan by the beginning of September.

New Jersey Cases
Dec  28 -Jan 3 ----30,821   6.7%,   9.9%

Jan    4 -Jan 10 --- 36,012   7.3%, 10.1%

Jan   11 -Jan 17 --- 37,043   7.0%,  8.3%

Jan   18 -Jan 24 -- 29,905   5.3%,  8.7%

Jan   25 -Jan 31 -- 28,539   4.8%,  7.4%

Feb  1 -  Feb  7---   21,470   3.4%,   8.1%

Feb  8 -  Feb 14--- 20,186   3.1%,   6.4%

Feb 15 -  Feb 21--- 17,549   2.6%,   6.2%

Feb 22 - Feb 28--  18,979   2.8%,   6.2%

Mar 1 ---Mar 7  --  19,214   2.7%,    5.3%

Mar 8 --Mar 14  -- 21,112   2.9%,    9.5%

Mar 15--Mar 21  -- 22,939 3.1%,    5.4%

Mar 22-Mar 28  -- 24,483 3.2%,    6.7%

Mar 29-April 4  -- 25,535  3.2%,    7.8%

April 5-April 11  -- 22,045 2.7%,    6.7%

April 12-April 18--21,467  2.6%,    6.6%

April 19-April 25--16,367  1.9%,    5.0%

April 26-May 2--- 10,824  1.2%,    3.8%

May 3--May 10---   5,283  0.6%,    2.0%

May 10-May 16---  2,413   0.3%     1.3%

May 17-May 23---  2,934  0.3%     1.1%

May 24-May 30--  1,620   0.2%     ??%

June 1 --June 6--- 1,400 

June 7 -June 13--  1,177

June 14-June 21-- 1,253

June 22-June 27--1,254

June 28-July 4----1,172

July 5---July 11--- 1,546

July 12--July 18--  2,598

July 19--Jul 25  --- 4.354

July 26--Aug 1  ---  5,832

Aug 2---Aug 8  ---  8,344

New Jersey numbers continue to climb as well. Masks are still only "recommended."

Bergen County Cases

Dec  28 -Jan 3--- 2,717,  6.0% Dashboard New Cases = 2,715

Jan    4 -Jan 10---3,110,  6.4% Dashboard New Cases = 3,126

Jan   11 -Jan 17---3,266,  6.4% Dashboard New Cases = 3,413

Jan   18-Jan 24---2,858,  5.2% Dashboard New Cases =2,999

Jan   25-Jan 31---2,716,  4.7% Dashboard New Cases = 2,876

Feb  1 -  Feb  7--- 2,328,  3.9% Dashboard New Cases = 2,490

Feb  8 - Feb 14---2,085,  3.3% Dashboard New Cases = 2,185

Feb 15 - Feb 21-- 1,934,  3.0% Dashboard New Cases = 1,982

Feb 23 - Feb 22--2,244,  3.4% Dashboard New Cases = 2,335

Mar 1 ---Mar 7 --2,305,  3.3% Dashboard New Cases = 2,341

Mar 8 --Mar 14--2,399,  3.4% Dashboard New Cases = 2,434

Mar 15--Mar 21--2,664,  3.6% Dashboard New Cases = 2,690

Mar 22-Mar 28--2,770,  3.6% Dashboard New Cases = 2,856

Mar 29-April 4-- 2,806,  3.6% Dashboard New Cases =2,930

April 5-April 11-- 2,273,  2.8% Dashboard New Cases =2,474

April 12-April 18-1,902,  2.3% Dashboard New Cases =2,009

April 19-April 25-1,446,  1.9% Dashboard New Cases =1,503

April 26-May 2 --   802,  0.9% Dashboard New Cases =1,001

May 3---May 10 -- 693,  0.8% Dashboard New Cases = 809

May 10--May 16 -- 348,  0.4% Dashboard New Cases = 468

May 17--May 23 -- 246,  0.3% Dashboard New Cases = 329

May 24-May 30 -- 173,   0.2% Dashboard New Cases = 204

June 1 --June 6--   104

June 7 -June 13--   116

June 14-June 21--  123

June 22-June 27-- 147

June 28-July 4---- 152

July 5---July 11---  146

July 12--July 18  --267

July 19--Jul 25  --- 440

July 26--Aug 1  ---  619

Aug 2---Aug 8  ---  815

We've lost most of the ground that we gained in the last three months.

The oral surgeon says I'm good and my wife is free of all orthopedic restrictions. We're going to the Giants preseason game Saturday.

A Newspaper Story

 My wife likes to get the paper copy of the Bergen Record. We've subscribed to the paper since the mid 1970s. She also gets the Sunday New York Times but this is about the Record.

Back in the beginning of July my wife got a renewal bill which listed the following items:

Change in Del. Service, Rate or Length: $10.50

09/01/21-08/31/22 Service: $624.06

Paper Statement Fee: $5.00

Additional Charges: $60.00

Total: $699.56!!!

Given all the electronic news services that are available online for free or for nominal subscription fees you can see why print newspapers are struggling.

Just to add to the confusion I had no idea what "Change in Del. Service, Rate or Length" or "Additional Charges" were. But my wife liked getting the paper so I wasn't going to make a fuss about it.

As for the "Paper Statement Fee," that was new and they said I could get rid of that if I set up "EZ Pay" which allowed them to hit my credit card rather than send a bill. That sounded like a reasonable idea.

So I called the number provided, set up EZ Pay and a $5.00 credit promptly appeared on my "Payment History" in my account.

So far, so good.

I was expecting an immediate charge for $694.56 but it didn't happen. I called after the July 15th due date passed and then called to inquire when they were going to hit my charge card. They said to give it 24 or 48 hours.

Nope, didn't happen so I figured maybe they're waiting for August 1st and forgot about it. Hey, it wasn't a problem as long as the newspapers kept coming.

August 1st rolled around and, sure enough, a charge appeared. The only problem was it was for $706.26 and not $694.56. I scratched my head a bit but I couldn't figure out where the additional $11.70 charge came from.

I thought about ignoring it but there's an old rule which says always know what you're paying for and I had already violated that twice by not investigating the "Change in Del. Service, Rate or Length" and "Additional Charges" items on the original bill.

I wasn't going to violate it a third time so I called.

Now one would think that a business could explain this easily. If they generated a charge then they must know what included in the charge right? Apparently not.

First I was told it was a charge for the "Special Edition" insert that would be included in the Sunday edition once a month. But after some digging it turned out this was a $5.00 charge which would amount to a lot more than $11.70 and there was no explanation as to why it wasn't on the original bill.

After going around O'Holihan's barn a few more times we concluded that the $60 "Additional Charges" actually covered the "Special Edition" even though there were apparently only eleven planned and not twelve and no one had ever asked if we wanted it. Apparently getting the Sunday paper without it wasn't an option.

Then I was told it was "Change in Del. Service, Rate or Length." When I pointed out that a line item covering that for $10.50 was already included in the original bill they had no answer.

What it came down to was if I had just paid the paper invoice it would have cost be $699.56, but, going to the "money saving EZ Pay" option, it was going to cost me $706.26 instead.

That wasn't going to happen.

By this time the customer service lady must have just wanted to get me off the phone so she offered me a credit for both the $10.50 charge and the mysterious $11.70.

I refused because the $10.50 was at least listed on the original invoice (even though I still didn't really know what it was for). So instead I took a credit for $11.70.

The "credit" duly appeared on my "Payment History" in my account but without an itemization of charges next year (I thought I would get one electronically this year and so far I haven't) I would have no way of knowing if I actually got the credit. I see another conversation with these people in the future.

If they run their business anything like this than no wonder newspapers are closing all over the country. If it wasn't that my wife really likes getting the paper I would have told them to go to hell and canceled.

Trump's Tax Returns

The Justice Department has ordered the IRS to release Trump's tax returns to Congress. Trump has a few days to challenge the order but it's unclear whether or not he intends to do so.

So, what is this going to mean?

My guess is absolutely nothing. Trump didn't release his returns not because he's hiding anything it's just that Trump thinks he's special and can do, or not do, whatever he wants.

It's going to be a big much ado about nothing. Democrats will howl about some of his deductions and how little he pays. Republicans will respond that he's being smart and doing what the tax code allows.

The Corona Virus, August 2, 2021

There are currently 35,273,354 reported case in the US and 620,964 deaths.

US Cases

Dec  28-Jan 3 -- 1,484,497,  7.7%

Jan   4 -Jan 10-- 1,766,398   8.5%

Jan 11 -Jan 17-- 1,559,170    6.9%

Jan 18 -Jan 24-- 1,206,819   5.0%

Jan 25 -Jan 31-- 1,049,667   4.1%

Feb  1 -  Feb  7--    855,743   3.2%

Feb  8 - Feb 14--   645,973   2.4%

Feb 15 - Feb 21--  476,821   1.7%

Feb 22 - Feb 28-- 487,627   1.7%

Mar 1 ---Mar 7  -- 414,986   1.4%

Mar 8 --Mar 14 -- 371,939   1.3%

Mar 15--Mar 21 -- 385,590  1.3%

Mar 22-Mar 28-- 429,180  1.4%

Mar 29-April 4-- 439,617   1.4%

April 5-April 11-- 480,732  1.6

April 12-April 18-500,013  1.6%

April 19-April 25-442,584  1.4%

April 26-May 2-   338,093  1.0%

May 3  --May 9-   280,293  0.9%

May 10--May 16-  227,441   0.7%

May 17--May 23-  175,653   0.5%

May 24--May 30- 138,104   0.4%

June 1 --June 6--   99,209

June 7 -June 13--  86,318

June 14-June 20-- 65,265

June 21-June 27--64,745

June 28-July 4----82,898

July 5---July 11---100,556

July 12--July 18 --145,510

July 19--Jul 25  ---235,732

July 26--Aug 1  ---404,539

There's no doubt there was a big hike but I'm not sure about this number as my source had one day about double the others and I adjusted it to the average.

New Jersey Cases
Dec  28 -Jan 3 ----30,821   6.7%,   9.9%

Jan    4 -Jan 10 --- 36,012   7.3%, 10.1%

Jan   11 -Jan 17 --- 37,043   7.0%,  8.3%

Jan   18 -Jan 24 -- 29,905   5.3%,  8.7%

Jan   25 -Jan 31 -- 28,539   4.8%,  7.4%

Feb  1 -  Feb  7---   21,470   3.4%,   8.1%

Feb  8 -  Feb 14--- 20,186   3.1%,   6.4%

Feb 15 -  Feb 21--- 17,549   2.6%,   6.2%

Feb 22 - Feb 28--  18,979   2.8%,   6.2%

Mar 1 ---Mar 7  --  19,214   2.7%,    5.3%

Mar 8 --Mar 14  -- 21,112   2.9%,    9.5%

Mar 15--Mar 21  -- 22,939 3.1%,    5.4%

Mar 22-Mar 28  -- 24,483 3.2%,    6.7%

Mar 29-April 4  -- 25,535  3.2%,    7.8%

April 5-April 11  -- 22,045 2.7%,    6.7%

April 12-April 18--21,467  2.6%,    6.6%

April 19-April 25--16,367  1.9%,    5.0%

April 26-May 2--- 10,824  1.2%,    3.8%

May 3--May 10---   5,283  0.6%,    2.0%

May 10-May 16---  2,413   0.3%     1.3%

May 17-May 23---  2,934  0.3%     1.1%

May 24-May 30--  1,620   0.2%     ??%

June 1 --June 6--- 1,400 

June 7 -June 13--  1,177

June 14-June 21-- 1,253

June 22-June 27--1,254

June 28-July 4----1,172

July 5---July 11--- 1,546

July 12--July 18--  2,598

July 19--Jul 25  --- 4.354

July 26--Aug 1  ---  5,832

New Jersey numbers continue to climb as well. Masks are now "recommended."

Bergen County Cases

Dec  28 -Jan 3--- 2,717,  6.0% Dashboard New Cases = 2,715

Jan    4 -Jan 10---3,110,  6.4% Dashboard New Cases = 3,126

Jan   11 -Jan 17---3,266,  6.4% Dashboard New Cases = 3,413

Jan   18-Jan 24---2,858,  5.2% Dashboard New Cases =2,999

Jan   25-Jan 31---2,716,  4.7% Dashboard New Cases = 2,876

Feb  1 -  Feb  7--- 2,328,  3.9% Dashboard New Cases = 2,490

Feb  8 - Feb 14---2,085,  3.3% Dashboard New Cases = 2,185

Feb 15 - Feb 21-- 1,934,  3.0% Dashboard New Cases = 1,982

Feb 23 - Feb 22--2,244,  3.4% Dashboard New Cases = 2,335

Mar 1 ---Mar 7 --2,305,  3.3% Dashboard New Cases = 2,341

Mar 8 --Mar 14--2,399,  3.4% Dashboard New Cases = 2,434

Mar 15--Mar 21--2,664,  3.6% Dashboard New Cases = 2,690

Mar 22-Mar 28--2,770,  3.6% Dashboard New Cases = 2,856

Mar 29-April 4-- 2,806,  3.6% Dashboard New Cases =2,930

April 5-April 11-- 2,273,  2.8% Dashboard New Cases =2,474

April 12-April 18-1,902,  2.3% Dashboard New Cases =2,009

April 19-April 25-1,446,  1.9% Dashboard New Cases =1,503

April 26-May 2 --   802,  0.9% Dashboard New Cases =1,001

May 3---May 10 -- 693,  0.8% Dashboard New Cases = 809

May 10--May 16 -- 348,  0.4% Dashboard New Cases = 468

May 17--May 23 -- 246,  0.3% Dashboard New Cases = 329

May 24-May 30 -- 173,   0.2% Dashboard New Cases = 204

June 1 --June 6--   104

June 7 -June 13--   116

June 14-June 21--  123

June 22-June 27-- 147

June 28-July 4---- 152

July 5---July 11---  146

July 12--July 18  --267

July 19--Jul 25  --- 440

July 26--Aug 1  ---  619

Bergen County is climbing as well. All because people didn't get vaccinated. Now there is some mumbling about a booster shot. Israel is already vaccinating those over 60.

I get to go back to the oral surgeon today. Isn't that going to be fun. I take my wife to see the orthopedic surgeon Wednesday.