Coronavirus global pandemic

Last week on ABC's evening news, when David Muir announced that Disneyland was closing [for only the fourth time in its history], he said something else that was mind-boggling--and a bit confusing.

As he was talking, they first showed video of Disneyland and then the Hollywood Sign. After saying the Disneyland bit, he said, and they showed a matching graphic, with the Hollywood Sign still on-screen, that the 'entertainment industry' makes $700 billion annually. I've wondered ever since then what, exactly, is included in 'the entertainment industry.'

They certainly implied--what with the Hollywood Sign on-screen as they reported it--that it was 'Hollywood' stuff--movies, television, music, the things that make LA the entertainment capitol of the world. But what about sports? The NBA, NFL, MLB and other professional sports are certainly entertaining! And big money-makers. And they're all shut down now.

Does dining out count as entertainment? What about amusement parks, national parks like Yosemite or Yellowstone, campgrounds, beaches...?

Anyone have thoughts on what they might have meant?

 

I'm doing my part: two sets of two cats! Noah's Ark it is!

 

Yesterday, the local news said a man from a 'small city near Pasadena' had died from coronavirus. Arcadia, where I live, is a 'small city near Pasadena'--as in, they share a border. I knew there was one confirmed case of CV in Arcadia...

Later, new details revealed that he was a 34-year-old from Glendora. An Armenian, like me. Only 34. The swift nature of how the virus killed him was astonishing. Literally just days from when he was visiting theme parks in Florida until he died here. Very sad.

 

'Loo roll'--you Brits and your polite way of speaking. I love it--sounds so much nicer than 'toilet paper.'

Anyway, a lot of restaurants here are offering delivery for the first time ever. Some places are including a loo roll if the customer needs it.

I'm really pissed that so many people acted so irresponsibly, panic-buying and stockpiling for themselves--unnecessarily!--leaving others to do without. They created a situation that didn't have to happen. I believe it was yesterday when Gov Newsom...or was it Mayor Garcetti? ...well, one of them mandated no hoarding/stockpiling of supplies. They've both continually reassured us, even SHOWED us, that supplies are plentiful and are being replenished regularly. We'll see how this works out.

Oh! It's very rare for my little city to make the news, but I was just alerted by KABC about a planned outage by SoCal Edison--in Arcadia! It would not have affected my neighborhood, but still--what kind of idiot thinks, gee, this is a GREAT TIME to shut off the power for a whole day?! The city responded by revoking Edison's permits for the work. So much for that idea!

 

Now, why doesn't that surprise me?

 

Is there room for a little levity here?

A few days ago on Jeopardy!, this was one of its clues:



My jaw dropped as Alex read it.

Keep in mind that the show normally tapes weeks to months in advance. With Trebek's illness...well, I'm really not sure if that altered the filming schedule. I don't think it did. My point, though, is that they couldn't have known when they filmed this that we'd be in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic when it aired.

Oh the irony of it...

 

Hey, fellow Angelenos, here's a very informative FAQ covering Mayor Garcetti's "safer at home" order. I highly recommend reading and/or referring to it as needed.

 

Well, it's official: the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been postponed.

Right now it doesn't look like they have a definite date set for when it will take place. But under the current circumstances, I believe this was the only thing they could responsibly do.

I hope they don't end up being canceled. Some of the athletes who've trained so hard to earn the right to participate in the Olympics, may no longer qualify in four years. For example, if they go pro, and professional athletes aren't allowed in their sport. That would be so sad.