Memorial Day and the Month of Numbers

[_MeDotOrg]

It seems to me the we have embarked upon a science experiment. This weekend, millions of Americans said goodbye to social distancing in giant pool parties, crowed beaches, bars and churches. If virus skeptics are correct, we are already over the hump and this weekend's activity will not create a rise in the rate of infections. Most epidemiologists believe that it will. The next month will be the proving grounds. The biggest growth industry in politics will be the confectionery art of making fudge out of numbers.

The 4th of July will be the next test. Trump will want to mark the occasion with gala events and a message that the country is back in business. The pressure will be on to equate patriotism with declaring victory over the virus.

I fear the next month will feature some grim numbers from the result of abandoning social distancing too early. Obviously there are a lot of people that feel differently. But in the next few weeks, their hopes and my fears will become numbers. And those number will tell the story.

[_Gunnar]

MeDot, do you have any updates on how this is affecting your occupation as a professional tour guide? I fear for your health and safety. It is hard for me to imagine an occupation that presents a greater potential hazard for people who may be vulnerable to severe complications from coronavirus. Please be safe! I would greatly miss your interesting and insightful posts if you succumbed to covid-19! Besides, once this pandemic is over, I would love to look you up and enjoy one of your guided tours!

[_MeDotOrg]

A few days ago I got a call from the head of Big Bus in San Francisco. There had been a tentative plan to try a 'social distancing' opening, with 40% capacity on buses. Normally our tours are 'hop on/hop off', with specific places where people can 'hop off' (i.e. Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, etc.). All of the stops would go away, it would be a 2.5 hour tour with no stops. But when Big Bus looked at the numbers, they realized they could not make it work. I had been 'laid off', with a chance of coming back when things got better. But the company is letting everyone go. They sent me a check with the the Paid Time Off I had accrued.

Big Bus was the largest and most successful tour operator in San Francisco. They have operations all over the world. As a major operator with deeper pockets than most companies, they were well positioned to ride this out and come up with a plan. But tourism is the exact opposite of social isolation. It is, as you pointed out, a high risk environment. I really enjoyed being a tour guide. I am fortunate. I'm nearly 70, I have Social Security, and don't have to think about what my career will be. But I think about all of the people in tourism and hospitality industries. What will be their career path for the next 2 or 3 years?

I wish I could give you a tour, Gunnar. I will miss that part of my life.

[_Some Schmo]

It seems to me the we have embarked upon a science experiment.

I'll bet on science rather than Trump's (albeit enormous) gut.

Part of me is actually grateful for these idiots. They can be our canaries in the coalmine.

The other, more sensible part of me, however, knows that these assholes aren't isolated living on their own island, but are part of the greater society, and they just strike me as damned selfish pricks.

The age of Trump is the age of extremely reckless and shameless asshole behavior.

[_Gunnar]

I wish I could give you a tour, Gunnar. I will miss that part of my life.

Let's hope that part of your life is not permanently gone!