117 wearing masks in the dark

Let's start this beautiful summer Sunday by talking about death. Oh joy.

A few days ago I wondered the same thing. Why are cases going up, but deaths going down?

This guy (a doctor, I believe) took the time to explain. 

The deaths that are declining, those are basically remnants of the first out-of-control outbreak in the US, in the NYC region. So, as that outbreak has come under control, deaths are declining.

Meanwhile, the new cases are from new outbreaks in other parts of the country. And people in those places haven't started dying yet.

The issue is that when all the data nationwide gets lumped together, it makes the statistics look wonky. So, the long and the short of it is, no, the virus isn't weaker, and we're not stronger. Instead, our math sucks, and wear a mask.

The Pickled Pistol posted this graphic.

Besides being a couple months old, I was wondering if it's accurate.

USA Today didn't think so.

The NYT says the overall death rate is up. Meaning, Covid-19 is actually being undercounted.

And if you can understand this chart, it backs them up.

This kinda shows that when you dive into the data, it's a bit messier. What, exactly, killed someone? Was it the Covid-19 they had, or the pneumonia they contracted as a result?

Well, it turns out, scientists have been keeping track. This is, I believe, a chart of "deaths above normal."

But like I said above, all of this death info is basically from NYC. Unfortunately, it looks like we're about to get a whole new batch of "data." (Let's hope we're not part of it.)

Phew, ok, we've moved past the scary stuff, let's get into bickering and quibbling.

These two are possibly the made-for-the-internet perfect example.

The gun she's holding with her finger on the trigger doesn't work?

Among the other gems in this article is the husband's claim that it was ok to point his assault rifle at people walking along a shared private street because he's done it before. 

And then there's dear leader, who definitely doesn't want to...

...look as stupid as 45.2 for not wearing a mask in a hospital?

Sure, maybe. Or was it because, um, he doesn't want to get sick?

Let's zoom in on that mask a little bit. It's hard to tell, but this looks like the presidential seal applied over a breathing vent. Aka, one of those N95 masks that protects you, but not the people around you.

In other words, "I wear my mask for me, you can die."

After a state guidance snafu, some local towns did a quick 720 on outdoor dining yesterday.

Alameda County, it turns out, hasn't submitted the right paperwork.

But they weren't on the governor's shit list.

And then they realized...

"...FFS."

Apparently, even the red tapers get tired of red tape.

Did you know red tape is a real thing? At least here in SF, that's the color of duct tape building inspectors use to post a violation.

Just like NYC makes American data look wonky, I'm happy San Francisco is bringing down the California data a bit. Come on, Dodger fans, what's up?

Tiny violins can be heard echoing through the shingled seaside "cottages."

Last night we went to "hell" for a backyard hangout. (See picture at top.) We carpooled to Oakland with friends, masks on, windows down. It was cold coming home. And pretty surreal, to sit uncomfortably in the noisy, cold car, yelling to be heard, with friends we've done this with so many times before.

And finally, one last story.

When I set out to see the comet at 4am the other day, I ran into three guys wearing masks in a dark, empty street.

"It's ok, they're not a threat," is what went through my mind. 

Why?

Because they were wearing masks at 4am in the dark! 

And only a mensch would do that.