Monday Musings - September 21, 2020

 

1. It is the third Monday of September. There is one Monday remaining this month.

2. Does anyone else feel as if Summer just abandoned us and departed? The temperatures have really taken a fall this week. I am very glad that I closed the pool last week.

3. Saw this shirt on Facebook--I might decide to purchase one because it is too true. 

4. I ran across the above home COVID-19 test. I followed the instructions and took the test myself. It worked.

5. Yesterday was a beautiful Autumn day--wait, Autumn does not begin until tomorrow!

6. Family NFL Weekend Report

     Ravens (2-0) defeat Texans (0-2) 33-16

     Cowboys (1-1) defeat Falcons (0-2) 40-39

     Steelers (2-0) defeat Broncos (0-2) 26-21

     WFT (1-1) lose to Cardinals (2-0) 15-30

7. The Orioles have assured themselves of another losing season. They are 23-31, .426, with just six games left to play. I had expected them to win 21 games and at least they did better than my prediction. And they were even in the playoff hunt in September--well, until the Orioles annual September losing streak kicked in. 

8. Today in History. On September 21, 1780, during the American Revolution, American General Benedict Arnold meets with British Major John Andre to discuss handing over West Point to the British, in return for the promise of a large sum of money and a high position in the British army. The plot was foiled and Arnold, a former American hero, became synonymous with the word “traitor.”

Pandemic Threatens to Widen Racial Homeownership Gap - The Wall Street Journal

What It Would Take for Herd Immunity to Stop Pandemic - The Wall Street Journal

With Nearly 200,000 Deaths in the U.S., the Pandemic Takes a Terrible Toll - The New York Times

Cuba’s Economy Was Hurting. The Pandemic Brought a Food Crisis. - The New York Times

The fall opening of colleges: Upheaval, pandemic weirdness and a fragile stability - The Washington Post

European countries opt for local measures over national shutdowns as coronavirus cases surge - The Washington Post

Australia's Victoria reports steady downward trend in COVID-19 cases - Reuters

Mass rallies and police data leaks in Belarus keep pressure on Lukashenko - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote for the week

“Let me speak plainly: The United States of America is and must remain a nation of openness to people of all beliefs. Our very unity has been strengthened by this pluralism. That's how we began; this is how we must always be. The ideals of our country leave no room whatsoever for intolerance, anti-Semitism, or bigotry of any kind -- none. The unique thing about America is a wall in our Constitution separating church and state. It guarantees there will never be a state religion in this land, but at the same time it makes sure that every single American is free to choose and practice his or her religious beliefs or to choose no religion at all. Their rights shall not be questioned or violated by the state.

-- Remarks at the International Convention of B'nai B'rith, 6 September 1984” 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD