Coronavirus Hope and Disaster

Hope - according to the New York Times the vaccine has been administered to 1.9 million people in the United States as of Saturday.

Disaster - over 330,000 people in the U.S. have died from covid-19. That is more people than the entire city of Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, or St. Louis. It is reported that Los Angeles now has 0 beds available in its ICU and the city has instituted a 10-day quarantine on any travelers visiting or returning to the city.

Coronavirus bomb exploding or its last gasp before being extinguished.

It is as if the virus knows there is a vaccine and is making a last stand to infect as many people as possible on its way out.

I am very fortunate that no one in my family has been infected with the coronavirus. However, there are four people I know along with their family members that have contracted coronavirus within the last two weeks. That is scary close.

Fortunately, I have no condition or situation that would make me high risk for complications. However, that also means I will be last in line for the vaccine unless actors are classified as essential workers. The USA Today said I should be able to receive the vaccine by summer. That seems like forever with infection rates soaring and people around me getting sick. 

Jim Cramer from Mad Money feels there will be a glut of vaccine stocks by the spring as new vaccine manufacturers get their product approved by the FDA. I hope that he is right. First, I do not want to get covid-19. Second, I fear that many countries, states, and employers may require a person to have proof of having been vaccinated in order to travel, go to work, or go to school.

Currently, in Hollywood, everyone has to be tested before they can work on set. The big studios have set up testing facilities for cast and crew and pay them to get tested. However, some smaller productions are asking actors to show proof of a covid-19 test in order to employ you but require you to get tested on your own - unpaid and unreimbursed. I have missed two job opportunities because of this in 2020. 

Hawaii requires a negative coronavirus test in order to visit the state or be subject to a 10-day quarantine.

I foresee a time in the near future where productions will only hire people if they have been vaccinated allowing production to avoid the expense of testing and at the same time ensuring the safety of their sets. I understand this from a business perspective, but it is frustrating for those who can't get the vaccine.

Fortunately, we are not there with yet with vaccine work screenings. Hopefully, Cramer's prediction of a vaccine glut by Spring will come true and everyone who wants to be vaccinated can be without delay.

Take care, be safe, and I hope everyone has a happy and healthy New Year!

Posts Tuesdays

My Dark Coronavirus Christmas Carol

When I read that a visit from Santa Claus infected 75 people with covid last week, I knew that it was time to share my dark-humored Christmas carol: The 12 Days of Covid. Works best if you sing it rather than just read it.

On the 1st day of covid my true love gave to me, a bat in a Chinese cave

On the 2nd day of covid my true love gave to me, two bottles of bleach

On the 3rd day of covid my true love gave to me, three new tweets

On the 4th day of covid my true love gave to me, four new vaccines 

On the 5th day of covid my true love gave to me, five types of wipes 

On the 6th day of covid my true love gave to me, six stocks a-soaring

On the 7th day of covid my true love gave to me, seven waiters a-swearing

On the 8th day of covid my true love gave to me, eight kids a-zooming

On the 9th day of covid my true love gave to me, nine states closing

On the 10th day of covid my true love gave to me, ten teachers hiding

On the 11th day of covid my true love gave to me, eleven doctors praying

On the 12th day of covid my true love gave to me, twelve nurses crying

Take care and be safe.

Posts weekly

Coronavirus Vaccine Is Here - Right?

The end is near…in a good way.

The coronavirus vaccine has arrived!

Actually, not here in the US - but in other parts of the world. England vaccinated its first person with the Pfizer vaccine on Tuesday. Bahrain has also approved its use.

So when do we get the shot in the U.S.? Can I go to Spain next summer after canceling the trip last summer?

Looking at timelines, I was surprised that it takes approximately 30 days to be protected against the virus from the time you take the first shot. The two part shot has to be taken 3 weeks apart. I did not realize it would take that long. Considering the first to be vaccinated are healthcare workers, the elderly, and people at high risk, it could be well in to the summer before I can get my first shot. There goes Spain.

Looking on the bright side, by the time I am vaccinated any side effects should be ironed out.

It also means that means next summer will be a time for more awesome road trips. I have always wanted to drive across country. Time rack up those free hotel night rewards!

As I finished writing this post, I saw a headline that a FDA panel just approved the Pfizer vaccine for US use. Let the countdown to my vaccination begin.

Take care and be safe.

Posts weekly (usually Tuesday)

A Coronavirus Thanksgiving

I gathered with family outside my immediate household for Thanksgiving. Even with all the dire warnings, I did it.

There were 7 of us (plus a dog). We all wore masks and ate outside never entering the house except to use the restroom. I even wore gloves when I carved the turkey.

But...

I did see numerous Facebook pictures of family and friends from the holidays (and sometimes large groups of family) not wearing masks.

We all hear about the horror stories of entire families coming down with covid and some people dying, yet people are still gathering and still gathering without masks.

I have one family member who refuses to wear a mask because it does not feel good. I have a friend who says "they" had covid during the summer so "they" can't get it again and are no longer contagious so they don't need to wear a mask. They do have a lingering cough. 

It is hard for me to judge others when I was one of the culprits who visited family. Now I know how Governor Newsome feels for going to a dinner party while telling people to stay home and basically live in isolation.

Fortunately, I had three coronavirus tests last week for work and they all came back negative. My family dodged the proverbial bullet.

I think about single people and the elderly. Is a single person living on their own really not supposed to talk to any friends or family in person for another three to six months until a vaccine is easily accessible? What are they supposed to do at Christmas, New Years, Valentine's Day?

The dating scene must really suck right now. 

And if a person has elderly parents, how many more Thanksgivings and Christmas' will they have with them? What if this could be their last one? Can they really not visit?

These are tough decisions we all must make, balancing the risk versus the reward.

I hope that you and your families are healthy and are able to navigate the holidays safely.

Posts weekly

Coronavirus The Fall of The Suit, The Rise of The Sock

The suit's best friend today is the actor. The entertainment industry is one industry that still requires its workers to dress up in suits and ties.  I have gotten by the last two years with my early 2000-era black suit but figured it was time to update my game and add some color. 

So I donned my coronavirus mask and drove to Nordstrom Rack. As I stepped off the escalator to the second floor,  I was surprised by the lack of suits. Prior to Covid, a good chunk of the second floor of the men's section was dedicated to suits, sport coats, and business wear. Today, only a small section in the middle of the store was dedicated to business wear and the once illustrious (and potentially expensive) suits were confined to a small section of the back wall. 

How fashion has changed. 

Lawyers, bankers, corporate office types once needed to own multiple suits that fit well. This goes for men and women. They were the symbol of professionalism, status, and style.

My wife's company said they would be lucky if they returned to the office next year. A lawyer I know has not been in the office for months.

So does anyone need a suit if they are working from home? Even if you have to dress up for a Zoom call, why would you need a suit? A sport coat, shirt, tie, and shorts would suffice. Sport coats are a lot cheaper than suits. And on Zoom, it is hard to tell the difference between a $60 clearance sport coat at Nordstrom Rack and a $1000 suit unless you have an amazing webcam and you are doing a (very unlikely) full body shot.

And shoes? Let's not even talk about how even more inconsequential the need is for multiple pairs of nice dress shoes let alone one pair if you are never in the office.

How are clothing manufacturers staying in business during the coronavirus epidemic?

The answer must be socks.

The evidence lay before me. A section of the store where suits once hung was now an expanded sock selection. Some socks were quite colorful. There were ankle socks, thick socks, Christmas socks, and others with amazing designs. Obviously, if people are staying home and winter is coming, socks will be one of the most important clothing items when a person is on that all important Zoom board meeting.

Perhaps coronavirus was the tool of the socks to overthrow the rule of the suits. 

But fear not, suits, a coronavirus vaccine is on the way, creating a pathway for your return to elite status level. And just remember, actors will always need you to create the fictitious worlds where suits are worn daily.  Seriously, only in Hollywood movies is business casual not the norm in an office.

My search for a suit continues.

Take care and be safe.

Posts weekly (target date Tuesday)

Coronavirus New Curfew - Ridiculous!

I was annoyed when I heard about the new statewide curfew ordered by Newsome that went into effect this weekend from 10 pm to 5 am.

People said, "John calm down. The only businesses it affects are the bars. It's the young people who don't wear masks and get drunk and are not cautious." When I stood outside my friend's bar in Oregon, the majority of people inside were older men. There are many types of bars

I said, "Watch this is just the beginning."

Lockdowns and curfews create anxiety. Trader Joes had a line half-way around the block this morning. Yes - around the block. My Pavilions had me wait outside for the first time in months. Toilet paper and paper towels were gone.

Today, LA County announced all outside dining will be closed effective Wednesday. Only take-out will be allowed.

Now waiters, hostesses, and bartenders have all just lost their jobs right before the holidays. Merry Christmas.

Many dining establishments have applied for permits and remodeled to provide outdoor dining or to provide more outdoor dining space. I have seen the changes in my neighborhood on my daily walks. Concrete barriers on the street to create dining areas, awnings installed, heat lamps, etc. 

California Adventure just opened its main street this weekend for shopping and dining. So much for those recently hired employees.

Someone asked me, what should we do.

I said:

• First, tell everyone to wear a mask when you are not eating.
• Second, enforce what outdoor dining is. Look at that joke of the French Laundry where Newsome was eating. Three walls enclosed by plastic. That is not outdoor dining. I have seen more and more restaurants close-in their outdoor dining spaces.
• Third, enforce the six-foot distance rule between tables in these outdoor areas. I have seen food areas getting more and more cramped as restaurants try to accommodate more diners.

But do not close all of these businesses down. Enforce the rules, so that the ones who do play by them don't have to suffer. That is how government can keep us safe. Governor, don't go the French Laundry, see the rules being abused, and laugh it all away.

I believe LA County will ban all indoor retail shopping after Black Friday weekend. If they did it this week, there would be a riot, not necessarily by the customers but by all the businesses that just stocked up on instore inventory. Imagine the financial catastrophe if California did shutdown all in-person shopping for the holidays. That would truly put the nail in the coffin of small businesses in the state.

Can't get this at take out

My Saturday in Julian was great. 90% of the people wore masks. Everyone kept their distance.

I do not understand what was wrong with the other 10% not wearing masks. Seriously, by that 10% not wearing their masks, they just cost all Californians the opportunity to eat out or get a drink.

A family member said they were walking outside near a hospital and a nurse walked right by them with their mask in their hand - not on their face. If heads of the CMA are at a large dinner party with the governor and nurses are walking around not wearing masks, perhaps I can see why the 10% don't take our "leaders" and medical establishment seriously.

But, if a small group of people continue to refuse to follow the three basic rules, we will not go back to a relatively normal life for a long time: wear a mask, social distance, and wash hands often. 

Take care and be safe.

Posts weekly.

Coronavirus Vaccine's Impact

On 11/9, Pfizer announced that their covid vaccine was found to be 90% effective in a clinical trail of 44,000 test subjects. 

What does this mean?

The stock market soared 1500 points first thing Monday morning.

Royal Caribbean Cruises stock ended up 25% while Zoom dropped 13%.

I think that Pfizer's news is wonderful, especially considering the massive outbreaks happening in Europe and across the U.S. (The U.S. is tallying over 100,00 new cases a day).  Deadline reported that 3 entertainment productions have closed this week due to positive COVID tests and I know of at least 2 last week. One of these my son was going to work on and I was scheduled to work another. We dodge the bullet on those shows.

The world knows that we sorely need a vaccine, hence the stock market jump.

However, the exuberance party was short lived as Tuesday the market ended up only 262 points and it is down today 108 points. 

There are two issues.

The first is time. If Pfizer passes all the recommended safety tests, it could be June before the vaccine is made widely available to the public. That is a long time from now. 8 months. I just realized, tomorrow 11/13/20 is exactly 8 months since Los Angeles went into lockdown mode - Friday the 13th of March. 

Trivia question: who said, "Beware the Ides of March"? (Close enough to the 15th to make it relevant. Answer below.)

Second, who is going to get vaccinated? Many people I speak to are scared of getting a vaccine whether it is for covid or any other disease. Safety is their main issue. Can the government force people to get vaccinated? Can the government or private businesses deny services like access to public school or Disneyland or a cruise ship to unvaccinated individuals?

In the movie Children Of Men, a vaccine to stop a deadly plague made everyone infertile. That is a chilling worst case scenario. Only in movies right?

But if people don't get vaccinated, how long will the economies of the world economy continue to be at risk of future shutdowns? Months, years? I read that New York is looking at closing its schools again. Los Angeles' have never opened. 

For now, all we can do is social distance, wear a mask, and keep washing those hands. We have to for at least for the next 8 months.

Take care and be safe.

Posts Weekly (Aiming for Tuesdays)

Trivia answer: The soothsayer to Julius Cesar in William Shakespeare's play.

Coronavirus Escape

Camping last weekend reaffirmed my belief that life is still awesome during the coronavirus epidemic.

During the weekend we hiked, kayaked, took silly pictures, built cairns and campfires, told stories, and had great meals in the beautiful outdoors. 

The only time I was concerned was when we sat down with our dinner at the outdoor patio of a restaurant and the table had not been wiped down. My wife put some sanitizer on the table and we wiped it down ourselves. Better safe than sorry. 

People wore masks when they were around others. The cafes, stores, and kayak rental shop enforced wearing them. People in the campground wore them when they were close to others i.e. at the bathroom.

We had an amazing time. One of the best things was the lack of a tv so there was no news about politics, protests, or coronavirus. 

So enjoy yourselves, just apply the 3 basic rules: use a mask, social distance, and wash your hands. 

Posts Tuesdays

Coronavirus A Step Backwards

Since my post a week ago, there has been little positive news on the coronavirus front. The US had one day of 85,000 new cases and another of 80,000.  Worse than these rising statistics is an article by CNBC stating that a study found coronavirus antibodies declining quickly after someone has recovered from the virus raising questions about herd immunity. 

Regarding vaccine news one poll reported that less than 50% of Americans would get vaccinated for the virus if a vaccine became available. In Russia, their much trumpeted vaccine released in August is being rolled out at a much slower place than originally claimed. Cases are rising in Russia.

I mentioned last week how the death rate had been rising at a much slower rate than the infection rate, but Wisconsin and Florida each had a day of over 60 coronavirus-related deaths in a single day.

European rates - infections, deaths, hospitalizations, are all spiking, but so is the anger against new rounds of safety restrictions. Protests are breaking out in Northern Italy and Spain.

Then two days ago, Walmart's CEO said customers are starting to stock up again. Please no more toilet paper shortages.

Taking my daily walk yesterday, I remarked to my wife how cold it was. It was 59 degrees at 9 am. That is winter weather in Los Angeles. My wife said she is going to break out the thermals and gloves tomorrow.  My boys have asked me to unbox the space heaters.

How does the cold relate to covid?

In Los Angeles, you can only eat outside at restaurants and workout outside (inside gyms are still closed). As it gets colder, people will not want to eat outdoors. People will huddle together indoors or more restaurants will close.

To give an example of how easily the virus can spread check out what happened on a recent set:

Each person had to take a rapid covid test before they left their car and joined the crew. A crew member asked where the woman went that was in the car next to mine.

His partner said, "She had to go to the restroom."

The crew member rolled his eyes, "Her test came back inconclusive."

Once she returned, they tested her again, and then sanitized the restroom while they waited for the results. Fortunately, the second test came back negative.

Should she have been forced to stay in her car until her results came back? Probably. But when you have to go, you have to go. Tricky situation.

If she had been covid positive and someone had followed her into the restroom before it was cleaned…14 day quarantines for everyone?

Take care and be safe.

Posts Tuesdays

Coronavirus When Will Disneyland Reopen

That is the million or billion dollar question for hordes of Southern California Magic Castle fans. It is also one of the questions of the 28,000 Disney employees that were recently laid off.

According to CNET, Governor Newsome said Disneyland and similar large theme parks can only open once their county reaches the yellow tier of infections. This means that no more than 1 new case of covid per 100,000 people living in that county. Currently, Orange County is in the red tier at 4.6 new cases per 100,000 people. Once Orange Country reaches that yellow level, then Disneyland can reopen, but park capacity will be capped at 25%.

Disney forcefully rejected that notion. All of their theme parks around the world are open from China to Paris to Florida. Only California remains closed.

The Governor's fear is that large theme parks with tens of thousands of visitors would act like super spreader locations like the week-long 365,000-person Sturgis Motorcycle Rally last August that did spread infections across the US.

So what happened when Walt Disney World (WDW) opened in July?

According to Eric Clinton president of one of the unions for cast members as reported by CinemaBlend, said very few if any cast members have had a work-related coronavirus infection at WDW since the reopening. 

Attendance is down due to limits on attendance. However, the Orlando Sentinel said on a recent day 19,000 people visited WDW down from a typical 60,000. Still 19,000 tourists plus cast members are a lot of people all in one place together. 

WDW has instituted a number of wellness measures including temperature screenings, wearing masks, enforcing social distancing, and limiting capacity. Fireworks, parades, and other activities have been curtailed. 

Those few commonsense safety changes seem to be keeping coronavirus in check. It all goes back to wearing a mask, social distancing, and sanitizing. The rule of 3  once again appears to be effective in keeping the virus at bay in yet another big venue. 

As I have said all along, I am personally concerned that a vaccine, if there is one, will not be ready until well into next year. Another vaccine trial (the third) has been suspended after a trial subject died in Brazil. If there is no safe vaccine for the next year or two, how long will California remain shutdown? Schools closed? Theaters shuttered? Winter is when flu season is the worst.

I know many people who have stated that even if there is a vaccine, they will not get it. 

The US just reported a 70,000-new-infection case day. The virus is not going away anytime soon.

It appears that California, at least Orange and Los Angeles Counties, will remain shutdown through at least the end of the year. 

So my musketeers, you will have to make the long journey to the other side of the country to ride a boat on the Pirates of the Caribbean before 2020 ends, maybe even 2021. Crazy, right?

Take care and be safe.

Posts Tuesday

 

Coronavirus Cases Up Deaths Down

Coronavirus infection numbers are going up worldwide.

India had over 60,000 new cases reported from 10/10 to 10/11. Europe is having a tsunami of new infections. As a whole, the continent reported 100,000 new infections last Friday with France having the largest increase - 20,000. The Spanish Prime Minister instituted a partial 15-day lockdown on Madrid after the city had an increase of 12,788 new covid cases. That is three times as many as Los Angeles. 

Speaking of Los Angeles, we had 970 new cases and 3 deaths yesterday.  This is compared to one of Los Angeles' worst reporting days - July 14 when there were 4,244 new cases and 73 deaths. 

This leads me to my second point, the number of deaths per the number of infections is down in the U.S.

According to worldometers.info, the worst daily death toll in the U.S. was April 21, with 2,748 deaths. The last day the U.S. reported over 1,000 coronavirus deaths in one day was on September 23 at 1,116. On October 10, the US reported 723. 

While the deaths have dropped by 2/3rds, unfortunately our infection rate remains high: April 21 26,875, September 23 41,868, October 10 54,235. It's not all bad. The worst day was July 24 with 78,893.

So if we look at new cases vs deaths for each of those 3 days: April 21 10.22%; September 23 2.67%; and October 10 .92%.

The good news (although none of this is really good news) is that more people are surviving who become infected. The bad news is over 50,000 people a day are still being infected with the Coronavirus across the country.

Whether the factor for decreasing death rate is medical professionals being more familiar with treating the disease, the disease becoming less virulent, or new medicines, it is good to know that if you do become infected, your chance of survival is pretty good.

In conclusion, the coronavirus is still running rampant. Even though people have a better chance of surviving an infection today than they did a couple of months ago, many people report long term mental and physical effects during what can be a lengthy recovery. Take care and be safe.

Here is an interesting side note I learned while I was researching this blog post:

Per John Hopkins University, the country with the most deaths per 100,000 people is not the U.S. We are number 6 even with the improved statistics above. Nor is it India, Brazil, or the United Kingdom. The dark title goes to Peru. To put their numbers in perspective, the U.S. mortality rate is 65.64 per 100,000, Peru is almost twice that at 104.11. Why?

The Associated Press reported that Peru's high numbers were due to using coronavirus rapid antibody tests the Peruvian government purchased from China. 

The government took this option because the test kits were cheaper and samples did not have to be sent to a lab to determine the results. It sounded like a good option, unfortunately it was too good to be true.

First, antibody tests are tests that determine whether or not a patient's body had developed antibodies to defeat the virus rather than a test that would determine if they were currently infected. The problem is that it can take days before a person's body develops antibodies to fight the virus. When these rapid antibody tests came back negative, patients would be sent home or let into work or school under the assumption they were not infected.

The other two issues with these tests were that some providers administered the test improperly and it was learned that many kits were faulty. 

Sad.

Posts Tuesdays

Coronavirus President Trump Infected

President Trump tested positive for Covid-19 last Thursday. By Friday he was in the hospital. And by Monday he was back at the White House.

Leaders around the world have tested positive since the beginning of the pandemic from UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to the former President of India Pranab Mukherjee.

These cases that even though many of us have coronavirus fatigue, we have to remain vigilant in wearing our masks and social distancing. 

The aspect of Trump's infection that I found most interesting was the care that he received. First, he received supplemental oxygen within 24 hours of showing symptoms. This is a treatment most people would not receive until they felt sick enough to go to the hospital which could be days after the initial onset of symptoms. How many times have you decided to try and wait out a cold or flu before going to a hospital? I have many times. And many times I have gotten better. Even when I didn't, when I call my doctor, the usual response is, Don't come in, we will send you a prescription to your local pharmacy. Come in if the symptoms get worse." I am thinking, I wouldn't be calling you if the symptoms have not been worsening.

Second, even with the quick provision of supplemental oxygen, President Trump still went to the hospital where, according to the New York Times, he took an experimental cocktail of drugs, the drug remdesivir, the steroid dexamethasone, and other drugs to aggressively fight the virus.

Thank goodness our President survived catching covid-19.

With none of the major world leaders dying from coronavirus, it goes to show that early detection and aggressive treatment are keys to keeping people alive. My concern is that these leaders who have recovered may be left with an impression that the virus is not something to be as feared as it should be. They hopefully realize that the treatments and the rapidity in which medical care was provided to them are not luxuries available to the vast majority of people. 

I think that if the leader of your country catches the virus, it should be a wake up call that the virus should be even more feared as it proves no one is immune. Everyday I am seeing more people on the street without masks. I don't understand. Who wants to be sick?

Wear your mask and keep your distance.

Take care and be safe.

New posts Tuesdays

Coronavirus - The New Movie Watching Experience

Mulan on my TV at home. Drive-in theater on the top of the Glendale Galleria parking lot. Quibi - yet another new streaming service. 

Welcome to the new world of movie watching.

According to Timeout.com there are over 40 movies from the last 4 decades being shown at drive-ins across Los Angeles County. Some of these are the brick and mortar drive-ins like the Vineland in San Gabriel Valley that has been showing movies since 1952. Then there are the old brick and mortars that have not shown films in years and are primarily used as swamp meets by day. Rodium in the South Bay is a prime example. These drive-ins show classics as well as the latest movies like Unhinged and Bill and Ted Face The Music.

The majority of drive-ins now are inflatable pop-ups at hotels, outdoor malls, or in parks. Examples of these include Moana being shown at Magic Johnson Park, Jaws at Mel's Drive-In in West Hollywood, and Edwards Scissorhands and Pet Sematary.

However, the most popular form of movie watching has to be through one of a score of streaming apps. Off the top of my head I can name Netflix, Apple TV, HBO Max, Peacock, Quibi, Amazon, Vudu, YouTube TV, Sling TV, CBS All Access, Hulu and Showtime. I am sure that there are dozens more. Movies like Mulan, Hamilton, and Tom Hank's Greyhound were all released straight to streaming services instead of going through their planned movie theater releases. 

I read a crazy statistic on What's On Netflix.com. It said that Netflix has 2.2 million minutes of content currently available. If you sat down in front of you tv today for a long binge watching session, we would not see you for four years!  And this does not include watching content on other apps during the four year period including The Mandalorian on Disney or The Expanse on Amazon Prime Video, two of my favorite shows. 

And the best thing about streamers, you can watch them in a park, on a beach, in the mountains, in your bed, the options are endless.

The point is there are still many outlets and ways to watch new movies even with theaters in Los Angeles still closed.. 

So sit back on your couch or settle into your car seat and enjoy the show.

Take care and be safe.

Posts Tuesdays

https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/how-long-would-it-take-to-watch-all-of-netflix/

 

Coronavirus How The NFL Is Staying Safe

Football is back! 

With coronavirus cases still at all-time highs in the United States, the NFL has had two weekends of relative coronavirus-free games. That is almost miraculous. No regular season games have been cancelled due to coronavirus outbreaks. Preseason was cancelled which is probably one of the reasons for an unusual number of upsets in week 1. 

Most stadiums did not allow any fans in weeks 1 or 2 of the NFL. One of the few that did, Kansas City, did have an outbreak in a group of 10 fans. However, due to contact tracing and separating fans into 10 person blocks throughout the stadium, the group was easily isolated.  

While surprising, the low numbers were not due to a miracle, but rather human determination and willpower. Sports leagues have proven sports can be played safely. Before the NFL started up again, the UFC had been having fights almost weekly going back to April. A few fights were cancelled due to a fighter or a person in their camp testing positive. No matter how big the fight, the UFC has been diligent about not allowing fights to continue if there is any risk of coronavirus infection.  That stringent approach has kept the UFC fighters, camps, and their families safe.  

The key that has been proven to work is a rigorous testing regimen. In an article on 9/8 from the NFL, it said of 44000 test of 8000 personnel in August, 8 people tested positive. Those 8 were immediately quarantined and no one else was infected. 

According to Pantherswire (the Carolina Panthers' website) no cases of covid had been reported prior to  week 2's games. This is really amazing considering half of the NFL teams and support staff were traveling around the country staying in hotels, taking planes, buses, etc.  

The entertainment industry has reported a few isolated cases, but not many. Why, testing, social distancing, and the use of PPEs.  Every person on set is tested relentlessly. I had to take three covid tests over three days before I was allowed on set this week to film for one day.  

If the major sports leagues and the entertainment industry are whole heartedly buying into widespread testing, wearing PPEs, and social distancing to keep infections at bay, I really don't know why anyone would argue against using these methods in our daily lives. 

Bring on the sports! 

Take care and be safe. 

Posts Tuesday

Coronavirus Religious Gatherings

Early on during the coronavirus, one of the most controversial issues was the banning of church gatherings. Most churches and congregations have abided by the social distancing rules and limits on large gatherings of people. 

I remember watching on Easter Andrea Bocelli singing in an empty cathedral and on the empty streets of Milan during the coronavirus' peak in Italy and how stirring it was - both his singing and the sight of the deserted streets.

Some pastors like Tony Spell in Louisiana have defied the coronavirus orders and have been arrested or fined for holding large church services. 

That being said, I recently went to my first church gathering since the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States six months ago. Up to now, our local church had been live streaming the services (except when LA for a couple of weeks allowed them to resume). I am proud to say that my son is on the video ministry team and helped make the streaming of those services possible.

I went to the in-person service because my son had completed his religious education training and was to be confirmed in the Catholic church. This is very big step in a Catholic individual's commitment to their faith. The act of being confirmed has to be done in person and a candidate's entire family usually comes to celebrate the occasion.

I am happy to say that my church abided by all the coronavirus restrictions through careful and thoughtful preparation to keep everyone safe including the priest who is in his early 80's meaning that he was considered high risk of dying if he contracted the illness.

The service was held outside on the church patio beneath a large magnolia tree. The candidate was allowed to bring three guests. Each row  of chairs was separated from the row on either side by 6 feet. Also, there was only one family per row on either side of the aisle. And rather than having all of the confirmation candidates for the church participate in one ceremony as in the past, they were scheduled in 4 different time slots.

When we arrived, our temperatures were checked, we had to sign a paper stating that we did not have any flu-like symptoms, and sanitizer was set out on the registration tables. 

The rest of the service was typical until it came time to wishing your neighbors peace and taking communion. 

At our church, people usually shake hands when giving each other the sign or blessing of peace. Due to coronavirus, there were lots of peace symbols flashed to our neighbors prompting many smiles.

Then came communion. We had to follow a specific path and let the pastor place the bread in your hand. Then a person walked 6 feet away, dropped their mask, ate it, put the mask back on, and then returned to their seat. Wine was not shared. No way to get around coronavirus on that one.

In the end, it was a beautiful ceremony. It was also a lot shorter than previous ceremonies due to the smaller group of candidates, limited family members, and lack of singing. Also family members throughout California were able to watch the ceremony.

Events large and small can be accomplished during our new coronavirus era with proper planning and care.

Take care and be safe.

Posts Tuesdays 

Coronavirus Free Weekend

Coronavirus Free Labor Day Weekend

 

Wildfires, heatwave, and a blockbuster movie release dominated local news. It was almost like a regular California Labor Day weekend. Coronavirus, BLM, and politics still dominated the news, but these other stories actually broke into the front pages of the major news outlets.

 

We checked into a hotel in San Diego for one night to escape the 114 degree South Pasadena heat last weekend. It was only 91 (a 25 degree difference). Everyone wore masks at the hotel. There were barriers between hotel staff and guests. All the restaurants at the hotel were closed. But along the Waterfront people rented kayaks and paddleboards. People fished. People bbq'd. People didn't act scared. They didn't appear resentful that they were wearing masks.

 

Being a fisherman, I had to check the San Diego fishing reports while I was there. Every sportfishing boat was booked that weekend. Not only that weekend, but filling up throughout the week. I had noticed that when I went on my fishing trip out of Santa Barbara a week ago - every trip was booked solid. And like on the Santa Barabara boat, the one in San Diego you had to wear a mask and sign a waiver that you were coronavirus symptom free before boarding. (Yes, I did go fishing in San Diego too - I couldn't help myself.)

 

Life seemed normal. And when life is normal you can talk about the heat wave; you can talk about California wildfires; you can talk about the new big movie release even if it is a streamer; and you can go fishing.

 

If the coronavirus epidemic has taught us one thing, it's that humans are resilient and adaptable.

 

Take care and be safe.

 

Posts Tuesdays (and some Saturdays)

Coronavirus Mulan $30 Why Now

The biggest movie watching news this weekend is undoubtedly Mulan being released to Disney+ subscribers for $30. This is on top of Disney+'s monthly membership fee. At first I was surprised by the price. I mean Netflix is releasing new content monthly with similarly budgeted movies like 6 Underground $150 million and The Irish Man $159 and they did not charge subscribers extra to watch them. (Mulan's budget is $200 million.) 

Perhaps I am not comparing apples to apples here. Mulan was supposed to be a box office smash hit, while Netflix movies are supposed to be streaming hits. This means Mulan had the potential to earn Disney a lot more money as a one-off project. Estimates ticket sales were a billion dollars worldwide. Netflix is fighting for long term subscribers and has to pump out consistent quality content to keep them.

 

So why did Disney decide to bite the proverbial bullet and post Mulan to its streaming service with a $30 price tag?

 

I have Disney+ since it is free for 6 months as part of my cell phone promotion. I enjoyed watching The Mandalorian. I also watched one classic movie. But that has been it. I have not watched Disney+ since the series ended because there is nothing new to watch. Once I watch Hamilton, my plan is to cancel my subscription and then renew it once the new season of Mandalorian arrives for one month.

 

So content issues is one reason Mulan was put on its streaming service.

 

My other two theories have to do with the Oscars and staying relevant. 

 

There has been a growing discussion regarding where streaming services' movies fit in awards season. Historically, only movies in theaters are qualified to earn an Oscar. What happens when the theaters have been closed for half a year and perhaps for the rest of the year? Do you base you Oscar candidates only on the movies shown in the first three months of the year? Or do you include movies like Hamilton, Mulan, and Tom Hank's Greyhound that were supposed to be released in theaters but went the streaming route? Or do you include all movies now - made for tv, made for cable, made for streaming, and made for theater?  Perhaps by charging pay per view rates for Mulan, Disney can argue that the $30 fee alone differentiates it enough to be considered a "real" movie worthy of Oscar contention.

 

I know people who have already paid for Mulan. I know people who have scoffed at the price. Will Disney make $1 billion? I doubt it. But people are talking about the movie. They are talking about the price. They are talking about the amazing special effects. They are talking about political issues surrounding the movie. And best of all for Disney, it is keeping the studio relevant at a time when its cruise line is shut down and many of its theme parks are still closed. And being relevant can be priceless.

 

As a final thought: what would have happened if Disney had pushed Mulan to 2021 and tensions between the US and Chinese governments continue(d) to rise. The movie might not never be released.

 

One thing is sure, the mouse knows what it is doing and no one is moving its cheese.

 

Take care and be safe.

 

Posts Saturdays and Tuesdays

Coronavirus Super Spreader - The Flute

"The flute is a coronavirus super sprayer," said my friend who is a classical musician.

 I was taken aback by her statement. I had never thought about how orchestras would be affected by coronavirus. According to sciencemag.org, studies they cited stated that wind instruments can indeed carry the Covid-19 virus, but not as much as would be released by singing. And yes, they did list the flute as the most effective sprayer.

 

By the end of March, all live concerts in Los Angeles and for most of the country went silent. Musicians super famous and not so famous took to Zoom, YouTube Live, Facebook Live, Instragram Live, etc. to perform for the public to keep themselves relevant and to promote themselves.

However, those social media platforms are not useful for a larger groups of musicians coming together to create music like the 100-member Los Angeles Philharmonic. First, groups of over 25 people are banned in Los Angeles. Second, the amount of space you would need to place everyone 6-feet apart would take an entire football field. Finally, the sound quality would be horrible.

 

Some techniques to mitigate the risks include covering the ends of the instrument, ensuring good ventilation in performance areas, and having musicians point their instruments away from the audience and fellow musicians.

 

My friend is encouraged by string musicians who are now working singly or up to quartet size at restaurants and weddings. She does not know of any wind musicians performing live yet.

 

In June, I was heartened by seeing a quartet perform on the patio of an outdoor restaurant. I made a mental note that the trombone player was not wearing a mask since he had to blow into his horn. He faced the diners while he played, but the band was a good 20 feet from the audience and it was an outdoor show. Still, did I mention super sprayers?

 

Take care and be safe.

 

Posts Tuesdays and Saturdays

 

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/07/it-safe-strike-band-time-coronavirus

Coronavirus Medical Advances and $5 Tests

 What a week of news for helping end the coronavirus scourge!

The biggest news is that on 8/26/20 Abbott Laboratory's said they "will ship tens of millions of ($5 15-minute covid-19) tests in September, ramping up to 50 million tests a month at the beginning of October.  No more sitting in a car for an hour to do a cough test near Dodger Stadium then waiting 3-5 business days for a result.  It is still a nasal swab test that has to be provided by a medical professional, but the low cost and rapid result will help clear up the multi-day laboratory bottle neck delay.

 Last week, I had to take multiple coronavirus tests. Two of the three were in mobile trailers. The rapidity of the test means that the test can be administered on a cruise ship dock, Disneyland parking lot, or at customs to ensure passengers, guests, or tourists are coronavirus free before entry. The benefits of this test in allowing the economy to reopen even wider are incalculable.

The second news item was reported on the same day by Motley Fool. Moderna announced that its leading coronavirus vaccine candidate showed no adverse affects on its 20 participants. It is now enrollling 30,000 participants in its phase 3 study. It has 13,000 signed up so far. According to the New York Times there are 9 vaccines in phase 3 trials as of yesterday. This is the last phase before the final approval process.

China and Russia are rumored to have started inoculating people with vaccines after only phase 2 has been completed. That is risky, but at the same time the rest of the world will learn the efficacy of their vaccines in the real world environment. 

 

After all of the bleak coronavirus news lately, it is nice to see some signs of humans effectively dealing with the coronavirus outbreak.

 

Stay safe and take care.

 

Posts Tuesday and Saturday

 

https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2020-08-26-Abbotts-Fast-5-15-Minute-Easy-to-Use-COVID-19-Antigen-Test-Receives-FDA-Emergency-Use-Authorization-Mobile-App-Displays-Test-Results-to-Help-Our-Return-to-Daily-Life-Ramping-Production-to-50-Million-Tests-a-Month

 

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/science/coronavirus-vaccine-tracker.html

Coronavirus The Heat

Coronavirus you are so mean! 

A heat wave has settled over Southern California for over a week and is forecast to last another two. 98 degrees today in South Pasadena. What do people do when it is hot? They go to the movies, the mall, the museum, eat inside a restaurant, basically go anywhere there is air conditioning. Thanks to the coronavirus all of those options are cancelled.

How about a nice hike? You would have to go really high up to find some relief. Last weekend Lake Arrowhead was 88 degrees at 5,174 feet - still a bit warm.  Big Bear was a little more comfortable at 82 degrees, but they were also having scattered thunderstorms. That would make hiking even more uncomfortable. And again, you can't go inside anywhere to escape the rain or heat.

Being in Southern California, we are blessed with golden beaches and the cool Pacific Ocean. Only issue is millions of other Angelenos would probably be headed that way as well - covid be darned. The temperature at Manhattan Beach last weekend was forecasted to be 86 degrees. So unless you were in the water all day, you will be broiling on the sand. And even if you braved the crowds and sun, once there you would still have to eat your lunch or drink your Starbucks outside.

 

Maybe my teenagers who sleep during the heat of the day and stay up during the cooler evenings night have it right. Night surfing anyone?

 

Note - I did go to Manhattan Beach yesterday despite my fears of crowds and heat. I took my boogie board and had a grand time. The weather was a hazy overcast all morning keeping the temperature in the upper 70s and it was not that crowded. Perhaps Angelenos had the same fears I had and stayed home making traffic a breeze. 

Lots of times one's fears are overblown and once you do something you realize its not so bad. 

Another good thing is theoretically the coronavirus dies in the sun. So if you brave the heat outside, almost everything thing you touch will be sanitized.  

 

Fortunately, in California we have a "dry" heat which means we avoid the humidity of the east coast making life more bearable than many other unfortunate souls. My son remarked yesterday, "Dad, remember how when we stepped out of the airport at JFK and our shirts immediately clung to our bodies." 

"Yes, I do," I said and laughed counting my blessings as we sat on the sand watching the waves.

I will take the California heat anytime - but that coronavirus is really trying my patience.

 

Take care and be safe.

 

Posts Tuesday and Saturday

Coronavirus On Set - You're Putting That Q-Tip Where?

The nurse practitioner pulled a ruler-length Q-Tip out of my nose. As she had warned, I would feel some discomfort. Done, I thought blinking away the tears. Then she said now for the other side.  I swallowed and tilted my head back. The show must go on, I thought.

Welcome to the new world of working on set. While the last commercial I shot was during the coronavirus, this one was the first since the official the entertainment unions, studios, and the Governor had come to agreement on shoot procedures during the coronavirus pandemic.

 The previous shoot had hand sanitizer, everyone wore a mask (that they brought from home), someone prepared and handed out food to us, and we kept our distance as best we could.

 

This time, before we could even step on the new set we had to have the lovely nasal-swab covid test. Then we had to read a 10-page document about the new covid-prevention measures; watch four videos on how to put on a mask, gloves, face shield, and how to wash your hands; and sign our lives away. Once we made it to set, they took everyone's temperature and asked us a half dozen questions about how we felt. They also provided us with N-95 masks and a brown paper bag. The bag was to place our mask inside when we were asked to remove them during filming. Then everyone participated in a safety meeting with an emphasis on covid-prevention measures.  A covid monitor routinely walked around the set to make sure everything looked good,  asked if everyone was OK, and offered hand sanitizer.

 

For crafty - i.e. water and snacks - a specific crew member stood there all day handing out whatever people asked for. In the past, people just took what they wanted.

 

For lunch, we were given bagged lunches that were actually pretty good.

 

Needless to say, I felt very safe on set. The crew respected all the restrictions and everyone seemed happy to be there.  

 

I look forward to working on my next set, although this one will require two separate days of covid testing - sorry, nose.

 

Take care and be safe.

 

Posts Tuesday and Saturday

Coronavirus Moving To Suburbia

Still building with fewer available tenants?

I had no idea that Facebook and Twitter would tell their employees they could work from home forever.

In one of my early post about the Coronavirus, I mentioned one of the economic impacts of the pandemic would be a hit to commercial real estate. If even 25% of office workers permanently work from home once the pandemic ends, that would be 25% less office space businesses would need to lease.

Ouch.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/05/22/coronavirus-remote-work-post-pandemic/5242420002/

My wife's company still has their office employees except a skeleton crew working from home and there are no plans on calling them back into the office. 

Once companies' leases are up, I imagine a lot of downsizing of office space will be going on.

I had also imagined that some people may move out of the cities if they didn't have to be there. 

CNBC reported that said 13,000 apartments stood empty in Manhattan - twice the number from last year. 

Observer reported that Jennifer Lawrence sold her Upper Eastside Manhattan penthouse apartment. She bought it for $15.6 million in 2016 and just sold it for $9.99 million. Ouch.

https://observer.com/2020/08/jennifer-lawrence-sells-upper-east-side-new-york-penthouse-apartment-at-loss/

I think about Downtown Los Angeles which has been going through a major renovation/gentrification of its old hotels and warehouses and turning them into expensive lofts for young professionals. New restaurants, bars, art galleries and the like were popping up. Does this mean it was all for naught? If you are not working in downtown, why would you move there? Even though it has improved over the last twenty years, it still smells, homeless wander the streets at all times of the day and night, and the only green space is in Grand Park which is far (a mile) from most of the new development.

Mall-anchoring department stores are closing, movie theaters (huge commercial property renters) are in serious financial danger, and concerts and sporting events will undoubtedly be different for years to come.

And while summer whether allows for restaurants to serve diners outside, what is going to happen come fall and winter if there is still no vaccine? Living in LA, the seasons don't matter much (sun, sun, and maybe a sprinkle, then more sun), but I imagine in New York and South Dakota, outdoor dining will probably lose its allure in winter.

Ouch.

To sum up, the things that drew people to the city are changing.

While all of this is scary news, it is a fascinating time to see the world changing before our eyes. 

Can you imagine what the world will be like next summer?

Take care and be safe.

Posts Tuesday and Saturday

Coronavirus - Blanket Ban Lifted on International Travel

I came across a crazy story last week that the U.S. State Department lifted its blanket international travel ban for Americans to travel abroad. (see below)

I thought that was really odd as I am hearing about rising coronavirus numbers in India and Brazil and new outbreaks in European countries. New Zealand just reported its first coronavirus case in over 4 months.

 

So I read deeper and learned that the ban that was lifted was the level 4 warning that the State Department applied to all countries back in March. A level 4 warning prevents Americans from recreational travel to the specified country or in this case all countries. Now the State Department has set the warning level based each country's specific situation. This is the way it was before the coronavirus pandemic. For example, now Mexico and Brazil are still ranked at level 4, but most European countries have a level 3 ban and some Asian countries are ranked level 1.

 

The positive is that people can begin to dream of international travel again. Having dreams and hopes has been proven to be an endorphin booster - make a person feel good.

 

However, just because our rankings have changed, that doesn't mean foreign countries will allow Americans in yet. Spain has not lifted its restrictions on prohibiting recreational travelers from the U.S. even though the State Department gives them a level 3 ranking.

 

The negative is that for Americans who want to travel abroad the situation has become more complicated.

 

When we were told we couldn't go anywhere, we removed the idea of international travel from our mind and started planning the great American road trips.

 

When a situation is unclear, we spend countless hours and time researching or worrying about whether or not we can really book that international trip.

 

Still, the State Department decision shows that the world is trying to return to normal. Hopefully, we can all return to normal sooner rather than later.

 

Take care and be safe.

 

Posts Tuesday and Saturday

https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2020/08/07/state-dept-lifted-its-blanket-international-travel-advisory-what-does-that-mean-americans/

Coronavirus A 4-Hour DMV Visit?

A 4 hour wait!

I had to renew my driver's license today and apply for a Real ID. This meant that I had to physically go into the DMV. Anyone who has been to the DMV knows what an arduous process this usually can be. With the coronavirus raging, I imagine it would even be worse.

 My son went for his drivers permit a month ago and his story is an example of what I feared. He arrived at the DMV at 2 pm and the security guard told him it would take at least 2 hours. The line wrapped around the building. It was 90 degrees outside and no shade. The guard told him that people start lining up at 6 am to enter the building at 9 am. Looking at the sun, my son decided to try the next morning.

He arrived the next morning at 5:15 am with his camping chair and powered up cell phone and there was one person ahead of him. In other words, three hours and 45 minutes before the DMV opened people were already in line. When he left at 9:45 am, the line was around the building again.

At my tender age of 49, my main concern was bathroom access. Waiting 4 hours wasn't a realistic possibility.

Still I needed to get the Real ID before October 1st if I hoped to fly within the U.S. and my renewal was coming up for my license. Yes, you can still use a passport, but it is a bit more cumbersome and it feels weird for me to travel within the US using a passport.

The DMV website does tell you how long the current wait times are at each office. I figured I would monitor the site once I had all the paperwork done and when I saw a wait under two hours somewhere, I would head down.

So I started the process of renewing online as my notification said I needed to do. The online process takes a long time as you need to scan and upload four documents to the DMV website for the Real ID. I pray I have no file capturing viruses on my computer or I just made it super easy for someone to assume my identity. However, after spending 30 minutes going through the process where I even had a choose which DMV I would go to, I was rewarded with a confirmation number that said it was as good as having an open appointment to show up at any time at the office I selected and join the appointment line.

I read a review online that said they had an appointment and were done in an hour. Someone else said it was better to go later that earlier.

I arrived at 4:15 pm the next day - 45 minutes before closing - and crossed my fingers. Sure enough, there was a separate line for appointments - no one was in it. The walk-in line which had already been capped for the day had 10 people. So if you are walking in, make sure you go before 4 pm.

The attendant after finishing with his current client, called me forward, reviewed my documents, and then sent me inside. Wait outside - 5 minutes. Inside, the waiting area were 18 chairs all spaced at least 6 feet apart. Behind the counter there was a masked clerk at every other station. My number was called 10 minutes later. The employee asked me to put my documents on the table and then step back to the circle in front of her window - six feet away. She then scooted forward, did her work, and then scooted back. I came forward, reviewed my documents, signed, and then paid for the renewal. She then directed me to the camera room. After 10 minutes here, I was done.

In and out in 30 minutes. Very organized and efficient. Of course, I had the benefit of an appointment. If I had to wait in the sun for three hours, I might have a slightly different tune. So if you need a Real ID; complete the online paperwork; upload the documents; and save yourself a ton of time.

Take care and be safe.

Posts Tuesday and Saturday