Can Just anybody Be An Expert?

 

Gee, give me half the money and I'll come up with something almost as insightful.

What's next?

Well here is one guy that is not an expert. Although he likely thought he was.

Balls This Big

So this Florida Man...... 

.......with his Florida girlfriend are accused of spending 7.2 million dollars in Covid paycheck protection program (PPP) funds to purchase a bunch of stuff.

PPP funds are supposed to help small businesses with payroll and operating costs during the coronavirus crisis.

Apparently he opened a company called Magnifico and said he had 441 employees with an average payroll of about $3,000,000.  So he applied for the PPP funds. 

Turns out he had zero employees.

So since he had no employees to pay, he (allegedly) bought a Maserati, an $89,000 Lincoln Navigator a $250,000 Mercedes Benz and a 3.1 million dollar home. 

Experts say he's going to jail.

In these Tough Times: Public Service Announcement

 

Finally, Some Sanity!

England's National Health Service (NHS) published a new ad, exhorting people to:

However, it has been facing a lot of backlash.

Why?

In the three "homes" on the right, women are busy doing chores, playing with children or doing chores with children.

While the "home" on the left, shows the only man, relaxing on the sofa with his girlfriend.

I think I see what the outrage is.

That woman should be getting that guy a beer rather than her just sitting around!

So finally the NHS showed us the way things used to be and still should be, and they get criticized for it.  

Now, if you want something to complain about......

What, No Duct Tape?

That's Gotta Hurt

Dude, Where's My Vaccine?

Well, maybe some American has it.

Here is a look at vaccination rates by US state. [You really have to click on this one to see it.]

[Since this information was downloaded, the US average is now 7.8%, up from the 6.4% in the chart.  Canada is (still) at 2%.]

I've highlighted some of the larger states.

California (dark blue almost at the bottom) is a mess.  

Not only do they have very high case rates and deaths, but their vaccine rollout is a disaster.

Sounds like Ontario.  Except Ontario's vaccination rate is at 1.4%, of course.

Maybe Ontario needs a little divine intervention?

Vaccine, Eh?

So a drilldown into Canada's 2.0% vaccination rate shows the following.  [As always, click on any graph to zoom in.]

I don't know if this is an official policy, but certainly looks like the northern territories (Nunavut, Yukon & the Northwest Territories) have been given priority on the rollout.  

It is an interesting policy if it is, as they have three of the lowest case rates in Canada. And the Northwest Territories and Nunavut have had no deaths, and Yukon only one.

Not that fussed that Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are at the bottom as they also have some of the lowest case rates in Canada.  Largely thanks to the Atlantic Bubble.

So that leaves good old Ontario down there at the bottom. High case rates and very low vaccinations.

Just what does it take to get vaccinated there?

Boy, do I remember those days......

"Vaccine! Vaccine! Get Yer Vaccine Here!"

 

[Click on graph to enlarge]

The World average of only 0.8% looks a little low, but many countries not on the graph have either no vaccinations or have not reported any data.

Canada is in a big group in the 1.5-2.5% range.

And in spite of all the bad press, the US and the UK are doing fairly well.

Now, for the US, if you add 6% vaccinated to the 8% infected, they are....nowhere near herd immunity.

So until then, you have to continue to make the decisions that are best for you......

Only During Pandemics...?

 

 

Bad News For Millennials

 It is Betty White's 99th birthday.

When asked about her philosophy of a long and happy life:

"Enjoy life. Accentuate the positive, not the negative. It sounds so trite, but a lot of people will pick out something to complain about."

"Don’t take yourself too seriously,” she said. "You can lie to others — not that I would — but you cannot lie to yourself."

What a great role model.

Except maybe to millennials, who, if you look at social media, are outraged about everything, take themselves far too seriously and only accentuate the negative.

The exact opposite of Betty.

So looks bad news for them for having a long, or even happy, life...... 

Do As I Say......

A fairly clever video mocking our politicians who say one thing and...well...you know.  

Here comedian Remy Munasifi is channeling Shaggy's 2000 hit and mocks California's Gov.

So click on the little blue button and enjoy. Although you may have to turn on the volume.

Where's Waldo The Mountain Lion?

 According to a recent report, Nevada's mountain lions often use the strategy of waiting patiently to ambush their prey.

And since some can reach up to 180 pounds, the big cats are usually not too difficult to spot.

Or are they....?

So, where's Waldo?

Any luck....?

Okay......

D'oh!  You wascally wabbit!

Truly Tragic

 The US just set a record for Covid deaths in a single day; 4,038

[As always, click on any graph to zoom in.]

Why does California, with some of the strictest lockdown rules in the nation, continue to have so many covid deaths?  And cases.

Sure, they are the largest state.  But even on a per person basis, they are still very high (highest orange bar, below).

Florida, on the other hand, with virtually no restrictions, is far down the list (lowest orange bar). 

And to top if off, in spite of the constant shellacking Florida's Governor takes every day in the national news, Florida's vaccination rate is 60% higher than California's.

Could it be treating people like adults?

Because maybe keeping people locked down for months on end soon becomes like a game of Whack-A-Mole.

Understatement?

 

Another (Future) Trump Supporter....?

Except For The Hair Colour.....

 

And finally.......

Heeeeee's Baaaaaaack.....

 ...with some Covid stats.

But not many.

With Ontario considering further lockdowns, mainly because of Brampton & Toronto, let's look - again - at how effective lockdowns have been so far. [Cclick to enlarge.]

Now, this blog is constantly harping on how restaurants and bars and gyms and movie theatres are being shut down.  And - no change here - look at how well that has worked.

Maybe people in Toronto just don't are any more - Covid fatigue? 

Well, now it looks the rest of the province has been infected with the same attitude!

Windsor & Sarnia lead the parade.  Followed by Brampton, York Region & Niagara.

And for the last week, that festering sore that is Toronto has slid way down the list.  

And that "Lockdown target" (of 25 cases per week per 100,000 people) looks so lonely way down there at the bottom.

So maybe lockdowns need to go beyond bars & restaurants.  All they really do is drive people underground.  To basements?

What's needed - curfews....?

Remember back in the good ol' days - June 16th below - when just about only Windsor, Toronto and Brampton (Peel region) were consistently higher than the target....

Good times.....

But once the vaccine gets rolled out, pretty sure things will recover...... 

Pretty sure......

 

From The "Why Didn't I Think Of That" File

 

But I liked the good old days, too.....

Or to see more from a post long ago, click April 27th Covid Stats.  Scroll down to get by the annoying covid stats....

You're Paying Too Much.....

 

...if the shuttle at your hotel is a Bentley.

Now that's more like it!

"Sir, sit on the blue tarp."

Time Savers And Other Stuff