The 2020 Election, Part 6
Pulling out the legs of the stool
Poster Saturday: Clean dry clothes keep him on the job.
Sunday, April 5, 2020
Saturday, April 4, 2020
Today In Wyoming's History: April 3. Governor Gordon Extends the Emergency and Puts In Place a Travelers Quarantine.
I have a pending thread on things dealing with the Coronavirus epidemic, including things that have really surprised me, but it's long and I haven't finished it yet, so I'll only simply note here that the public tolerance for restrictions, given as Americans generally hate restrictions of all types, continues to really surprise me.
Along those lines, lots of states have "shelter in place" orders going on now, with those orders generally being tolerated fairly well. There's been a lot of speculation the past week if Wyoming would issue one or not, given as the state's medicos are strongly urging it. Yesterday, the Governor indicated that he wouldn't, as our post on a our companion blog for yesterday, Today In Wyoming's History: April 3, 2020, noted:
2020 Governor Gordon extended his Coronavirus emergency orders through April 30, and broadened their scope. His announcement stated:
Be that as it may, this order contains some real surprises in some ways, the most interesting being that it does impose a fourteen day quarantine for people entering and remaining in the state, save for people entering it for employment reasons.
This order isn't finding favor, we'd note, with some county health officials who are threatening to order their counties quarantined. If that's going to happen, it'll likely happen early next week. It seems that those officials were waiting to see if their suggestions would be taken by Governor Gordon or not. Now it is clear they haven't been, so it remains to be seen if they'll abstain or argue for county action instead.
Along those lines, lots of states have "shelter in place" orders going on now, with those orders generally being tolerated fairly well. There's been a lot of speculation the past week if Wyoming would issue one or not, given as the state's medicos are strongly urging it. Yesterday, the Governor indicated that he wouldn't, as our post on a our companion blog for yesterday, Today In Wyoming's History: April 3, 2020, noted:
2020 Governor Gordon extended his Coronavirus emergency orders through April 30, and broadened their scope. His announcement stated:
Governor, State Health Officer extend statewide Public Health Orders through April 30Governor also Directs 14-Day Quarantine for Travelers Arriving in Wyoming from another State or Country
CHEYENNE – Governor Mark Gordon and State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist have extended the three existing statewide health orders through April 30 to slow community transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) and protect lives.
The Governor continues to emphatically state that people need to stay home whenever possible to prevent or slow the spread of the virus. These orders are meant to enforce that direction through April. Specifically, the current orders closing public places including schools, prohibiting gatherings of 10 people or more in a single room or confined space (including outdoors) and closing bars, restaurants, coffee shops and some personal services businesses will continue through April 30. Food establishments can continue to provide delivery services, but carry-out service is now required to take place curbside.
“The decision to extend these orders was made to save lives and keep people at home,” Governor Gordon said. “We are seeing community transmission of COVID-19 occur around the state and we will continue to see more confirmed cases in the weeks to come. This action will help lower the rate of transmission and protect both our healthcare system and the healthcare workers we all rely on.”
The Governor has also issued a directive requiring any individual coming to Wyoming from another state or country for a non-work-related purpose to immediately self-quarantine for 14 days. For visits fewer than 14 days, that individual must self-quarantine for the duration of the visit. The directive is intended to discourage out-of-state visitation during the pandemic and reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“We know that travel from another state or country is a source of COVID-19 infections in Wyoming," Governor Gordon said. “Visitors from neighboring states have strained the resources of many Wyoming communities so we are asking them to do the right thing to protect the health of our citizens and the resources of our rural healthcare facilities.”
Dr. Harrist noted Wyoming continues to see community spread of COVID-19 and social distancing measures remain the most effective means to slow the spread of the virus.
“We need everyone to stay home as much as possible,” Harrist said. “Anyone can spread this disease, even if they don’t yet realize they are ill.”
The updated orders and the Governor's directive can be found on the Governor's website. The directive is also attached.The actual order stated:
This order isn't finding favor, we'd note, with some county health officials who are threatening to order their counties quarantined. If that's going to happen, it'll likely happen early next week. It seems that those officials were waiting to see if their suggestions would be taken by Governor Gordon or not. Now it is clear they haven't been, so it remains to be seen if they'll abstain or argue for county action instead.
April 4, 1920. Treasure Island released, France announces advance, Soviet Union requires workers to have identification.
On this day in 1920, the film Treasure Island, or rather one of its earlier (not its earliest) versions, was released. The popular novel has lead to frequent cinematic adaptations.
On the same day France announced it was going to occupy German cities in the Ruhr due to the failure of the besieged Ebert government in Berlin to withdraw the Reichswehr from that region. On the same day the benighted government of the workers in the Soviet Union announced that all the benighted had to carry identification as to their place of employment so as to be able to make sure that they were remaining benighted.
Friday, April 3, 2020
Pulling out the legs of the stool
Regarding Wyoming's economy, I've noted in the past:
Right now, three of those legs are pretty wobbly.
Oil has been a victim of a bizarre price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia. Price at the pump, yesterday, was down to $1.75/gallon, the lowest I've seen in years, and a fellow I know who had grocery store points bought it the other day for $0.83/gallon, and almost unbelievably low price. And all of this as the price per barrel for crude has been in the low $20s.
Relief, possibly, might be in sight. President Trump claimed yesterday that the spatting oligarchies were close to a deal, which if the people who run them are wise, the ought to be. Irrespective of their public positions, both governments are a house of cards and if this keeps up, it's only a matter of time before somebody on an oil payroll of some kind or another begins to plan a change in government, at which all bets are really off. They haven't reached that point yet, but they will, as neither of these governments is that stable. Crude today is at $32.00/bbl, a considerable jump, but still far too low for Wyoming's oil to be economically produced.
All of that is outside of the Coronavirus disaster realm but certainly adds to the developing economic disaster here. It may play a part in ending it, however, as the disease is now hitting Russia and from what can be discerned from a distance, it's hitting Russia pretty hard. Putin may be able to ride out an oil related disaster for awhile. . . after all the Russian capacity for suffering is enormous. . . but keeping a health related one quiet and under control at the same time will be difficult. He needs one to end.
In hopes that it will end there are efforts to try to get the oil and gas industry recognized as a critical industry if Wyoming goes into a shelter in place shut down. Indeed, stopping anything ongoing would be difficult at best. But the slow down is stopping a lot of work, it appears, and the longer this goes on the worse that will be.
And its trouble the state didn't need with the Coronavirus Pandemic also going on. Lots of towns are now shut down to some degree and the entire state has closed occupations, at least for another week, that are in the food industry. So the layoffs have been huge, hurting an economy that's already hurting. While no shelter in place order is in place, lots of businesses have closed anyhow, following recommendations that have been but out by authoritative sources.
Suffice it to say, tourism right now is temporarily over . Teton County told its tourists, which are a bit part of its economy, to go home. The State closed its parks to camping. Air travel has taken a major hit. It'll recover once the pandemic abates to an ending point, but not before then.
And the price of cattle is down while meat is up.
The only part of the economy's seat, therefore, that's not wobbly is government, as it can't be. In this emergency situation, it's very active and has no choice but to be. But the problems it now has to face are gigantic.
Pondering those questions looks to bring the Legislature back into session, but nobody knows when. Indeed, doing it now would send the wrong message as convening during a pandemic is exactly what we're told not to do. They're aware of that, but faced with an unprecedented economic disaster, they feel that later on, they'll have no choice but to gather.
Nobody knows where we will be by then. In a couple of months, the virus could be in full retreat and science in full advance, or not. Oil could be at $20/bbl or $100/bbl. Cattle prices could still be low or have risen.
Let's hope the stool is mostly repaired by then.
Right now, three of those legs are pretty wobbly.
Oil has been a victim of a bizarre price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia. Price at the pump, yesterday, was down to $1.75/gallon, the lowest I've seen in years, and a fellow I know who had grocery store points bought it the other day for $0.83/gallon, and almost unbelievably low price. And all of this as the price per barrel for crude has been in the low $20s.
Relief, possibly, might be in sight. President Trump claimed yesterday that the spatting oligarchies were close to a deal, which if the people who run them are wise, the ought to be. Irrespective of their public positions, both governments are a house of cards and if this keeps up, it's only a matter of time before somebody on an oil payroll of some kind or another begins to plan a change in government, at which all bets are really off. They haven't reached that point yet, but they will, as neither of these governments is that stable. Crude today is at $32.00/bbl, a considerable jump, but still far too low for Wyoming's oil to be economically produced.
All of that is outside of the Coronavirus disaster realm but certainly adds to the developing economic disaster here. It may play a part in ending it, however, as the disease is now hitting Russia and from what can be discerned from a distance, it's hitting Russia pretty hard. Putin may be able to ride out an oil related disaster for awhile. . . after all the Russian capacity for suffering is enormous. . . but keeping a health related one quiet and under control at the same time will be difficult. He needs one to end.
In hopes that it will end there are efforts to try to get the oil and gas industry recognized as a critical industry if Wyoming goes into a shelter in place shut down. Indeed, stopping anything ongoing would be difficult at best. But the slow down is stopping a lot of work, it appears, and the longer this goes on the worse that will be.
And its trouble the state didn't need with the Coronavirus Pandemic also going on. Lots of towns are now shut down to some degree and the entire state has closed occupations, at least for another week, that are in the food industry. So the layoffs have been huge, hurting an economy that's already hurting. While no shelter in place order is in place, lots of businesses have closed anyhow, following recommendations that have been but out by authoritative sources.
Suffice it to say, tourism right now is temporarily over . Teton County told its tourists, which are a bit part of its economy, to go home. The State closed its parks to camping. Air travel has taken a major hit. It'll recover once the pandemic abates to an ending point, but not before then.
And the price of cattle is down while meat is up.
The only part of the economy's seat, therefore, that's not wobbly is government, as it can't be. In this emergency situation, it's very active and has no choice but to be. But the problems it now has to face are gigantic.
Pondering those questions looks to bring the Legislature back into session, but nobody knows when. Indeed, doing it now would send the wrong message as convening during a pandemic is exactly what we're told not to do. They're aware of that, but faced with an unprecedented economic disaster, they feel that later on, they'll have no choice but to gather.
Nobody knows where we will be by then. In a couple of months, the virus could be in full retreat and science in full advance, or not. Oil could be at $20/bbl or $100/bbl. Cattle prices could still be low or have risen.
Let's hope the stool is mostly repaired by then.
April 3, 1920 Congress looks into the packing industry, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Sayre marry, Tag Day, and the looming Jazz Age.
" The House Agriculture Committee which is at present considering
legislation to regulate the packers, photographed in the Committee room at the
Capitol today. Front row left to right, James Young Texas, John W. Rainey Ill.
and William W. Wilson of Ill. Middle row, Left to right, E.S. Candler, Miss.
Gordon Lee Ga? Gilbert M. Haugen, Iowa, Chairman Jas C. McLaughlin Mich. and
Sidney Anderson Minn. Back Row. Left to right, H.M. Jacoway, Arkansas, Thomas
L. Rubey Mo. John V. Lesher Pa. Fred S. Purnell Ind. J.N.Tincher Kans.
M.O.McLaughlin Nebr. Elijah C. Hutchinson N.J. Edward Voigt Wis. L.G.Haugen,
Clerk."
Congress was looking into regulating meat packers on this day back in 1920.
My grandfather was employed in the meat packing industry around this time, although he may not have been quite yet. He'd come to own his own plant, making him something that doesn't really seem to exist anymore, the owner of a single packing plant.
While this entry is from 1920, I'll note that on this Friday, a day which I frequent put in posts related to farming, as the price of meat is way up, but the price of cattle is down. There's something really wrong with that, and a lot of what's wrong with that has to do there being too few packers, something that's come about due to the general trend of industry consolidation in the U.S. and due to complicated external factors.
Anyway you look at it, however, a situation in which the price of cattle is down, and the price fuel, and hence transportation costs, is way down, should mean that meat in the grocery store is also down. Conversetly, if it is up, the price paid to the producing farmer and rancher should be up as well.
None of that is true.
On the same day, it was Tag Day in Washington D.C.
"TAG DAY UP TO DATE IN WASHINGTON D.C. No longer can the
citizen who rides in an automobile feel secure on tag days. In the past the
lowly pedestrian has been the one to "Come across" while the
automobilist was comparatively safe. Washington society ladies sprang a new one
today in selling tags for the benefit of Columbia Hospital. Fair damsels on
horseback "Held Up" automobiles while their sisters on foot
"Worked" the sidewalks. Photo shows Miss Ellen Messer receiving a
liberal contribution from a surprised automobilist."
Elsewhere, eight days after the publication of his first novel, F. Scott Fitzgerald married Zelda Sayre at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City.
F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald at that time was already in his early stages of alcoholism and Zelda would follow him on that trip, with her mind declining into insanity and ultimately to a tragic death in a fire in a mental health sanitarium. All that was before the couple, however, which had an on again off again relationship up to this point. She'd virtually define the flapper of the Jazz Age and was a thinly veiled character in much of Fitzgerald's writings.
Not quite in the Jazz Age but already heading there, J. C. Leyendecker portrayed a style of hat that was to become common in the 1920s, in this instance as an Easter bonnet.
Thursday, April 2, 2020
April 2, 1920. The end of the Ruhr Uprising, Irish Republican protests in Washington, Processions in Jerusalem.
The Reichswehr and the Freikorps entered the Ruhr in earnest, and in violation of the Versailles Treaty, on this day in April, 1920.
The German government could not secure permission for their entry but it had little choice but to send them. The Ruhr Uprising by this point was only successful as it had no armed opposition inside most of the Ruhr. The entry of the German Army ended that.
Ebert promised no retaliation, but in fact the German government and government aligned forces executed a large number of German Reds who fell into their hands. The revolution was crushed, but the French would occupy some German cities in retaliation for their refusal to allow German forces in the Ruhr being ignored.
On the same day, for the second day in a row, there were female protests in Washington D.C. in support of an independent Irish republic.
And also on that day, the country that was not yet providing for that Irish independence leant a military bad to a procession in Jerusalem that was otherwise made up of locals of that city, including a boy scout troop.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
March 31, 1920. Hoover reluctantly tosses hat in ring.
Herbert Hoover, on this day in 1920, reluctantly indicated that he'd take the GOP nomination, if it was offered.
In Washington, Congress was continuing on with its investigation into nearly everything concerning the U.S. military and the late war.
The testimony must have gone okay, as Harts continued on, and to rise, in the Army, retiring in 1930. He died at age 94 in 1961.
Monday, March 30, 2020
Blog Mirror: Importance of Routine (AKA being productive and surviving working from home)
Something, it appears, that more and more of us might have to learn to do effectively over the next few weeks.
Home
Home
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Today In Wyoming's History: March 28, 2020. Jackson shelters in place.
A link in to Today In Wyoming's History: March 28; for 2020
To add a tad to it, Teton County has 14 of the 80s some cases in Wyoming, which is statistically odd. Additionally, this is the only instance I'm aware of a town in Wyoming, as opposed to a county, issuing an order. The actually authority is vested with the county health officer, although here they're acting pursuant to his recommendation, and that probably covers it.
The basic suggestion that those from outside the area vacate is also interesting, as basically that stands to spread the virus, if its widespread enough in the community, although it may not be.
2020 In an emergency session, the Town of Jackson, Wyoming, issued a shelter in place order for the town, implementing recommendations from Teton County's health official brought about by the COVID 19 pandemic. The country recommendations, issued on the 24th, further recommended that people from outside the county or with second homes leave the county for their primary residences.
To add a tad to it, Teton County has 14 of the 80s some cases in Wyoming, which is statistically odd. Additionally, this is the only instance I'm aware of a town in Wyoming, as opposed to a county, issuing an order. The actually authority is vested with the county health officer, although here they're acting pursuant to his recommendation, and that probably covers it.
The basic suggestion that those from outside the area vacate is also interesting, as basically that stands to spread the virus, if its widespread enough in the community, although it may not be.
2020 In an emergency session, the Town of Jackson, Wyoming, issued a shelter in place order for the town, implementing recommendations from Teton County's health official brought about by the COVID 19 pandemic. The country recommendations, issued on the 24th, further recommended that people from outside the county or with second homes leave the county for their primary residences.
Sunday Morning Scene: Churches of the West: Christ United Methodist Church, Casper Wyoming
Churches of the West: Christ United Methodist Church, Casper Wyoming:
Another one of the many Casper churches I hadn't gotten around to photographing, Christ United Methodist Church as photographed out my Jeep windshield.
I don't know the history of this church but it likely dates to the 1950s. It hasn't always been a Methodist church and in fact was part of a swap by this congregation for another building they had to another denomination as each of their respective buildings worked better for the other.
Christ United Methodist Church, Casper Wyoming
Another one of the many Casper churches I hadn't gotten around to photographing, Christ United Methodist Church as photographed out my Jeep windshield.
I don't know the history of this church but it likely dates to the 1950s. It hasn't always been a Methodist church and in fact was part of a swap by this congregation for another building they had to another denomination as each of their respective buildings worked better for the other.
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Best Posts of the Week of March 22, 2020
The best post of a not very good week:
NYT: How the Virus Got Out
You just know that this is going to end badly.
Governor Gordon issues his Third Closure Order
Remembering how people work
Wet Markets. SARS, MERS, COVID 19, Pandemics. This will surely draw rebuke, and
Today In Wyoming's History: March 25, 2020. Staying At Home, Orders and Suggestions.
Today In Wyoming's History: March 26, 2020. The Governor of Montana issues a Stay At Home Order
Shutting Everything Down. . . the dissenting informed voices.
Governor, State Health Officer extend Statewide Public Health Orders through April 17
Poster Saturday: His mask keeps him on the job
March 28, 1920. Tornadic outbreaks, Typhus, Bulgarian elections, and movies.
Released on this date in 1920. This is a lost, and then rediscovered, film and has been shown in a theater as recently as 2015. Note, on the left page, the allegorical human figure painted into the downed timber depiction.
March 28 was Palm Sunday in 1920.
On that date a deadly cluster of at least 37 tornadoes destroyed towns and lives throughout the Midwest and Deep South, showing the extent of the storm system that day. Between 200 and 400 lives were lost, with about 200 deaths occurring in Georgia alone. It remains one of the worst tornadic events in American history.
Post tornado view of Elgin, Illinois.
A disaster of another type, contaminated water, was plaguing Casper. Casper would have outbreaks of waterborne diseases for years, including typhus.
Flag of the Bulgarian Agrarian National Union. The cloverleaf symbol was used by many European agrarian parties as well as a pan European organization made up of agrarian parties. Orange is a color often used by European "center" parties due to its association with Christian Democratic parties. The BANU was centerist, but it was not a Christian Democratic party.
While a minor party today, the BANU still exists as a Bulgarian political party.
Friday, March 27, 2020
Governor, State Health Officer extend Statewide Public Health Orders through April 17
The announcement this afternoon:
Governor, State Health Officer extend Statewide Public Health Orders through April 17
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon and State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist have extended the three existing statewide health orders through April 17 to slow community transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) and protect lives.
Current orders closing public places including schools, prohibiting gatherings of 10 people or more in a single room or confined space (including outdoors) and closing bars, restaurants, coffee shops and some personal services businesses will continue through April 17. Food establishments can continue to provide take out and delivery services.
“I have extended these orders in consultation with Dr. Harrist,” Governor Gordon said. “Because we’ve seen cases identified in additional counties and growth in the case numbers, it’s clear how important it is for us to take sustained action. I understand the ongoing strain that these measures are having on businesses, workers and Wyoming communities. But it is imperative that our citizens respond to this public health crisis by staying home whenever possible and practicing proper social distancing when they must go out. This is how we can save lives and protect people’s health.”Dr. Harrist emphasized the extension of the current orders is necessary because it takes time for social distancing measures to effectively slow the spread of COVID-19 and to monitor the impacts of those measures on the outbreak in Wyoming.
“The best tool we have to reduce the potential burden on our healthcare system and save lives is for all of us to limit our contact with other people as much as possible,” Dr. Harrist said. “Of course it is most important for people who are ill to stay home unless they need medical attention.”The Governor is in continuous communication with Wyoming Department of Health officials and is prepared to issue updated guidance– including further statewide orders– should conditions warrant.
As of March 27, the Wyoming Department of Health is reporting 70 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in 13 Wyoming counties.
Seems we got to 70 pretty fast.
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