I continue to be impressed with Michigan Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson. This morning, while driving to the gym, i heard a live interview on CNN with Benson. The subject was about the Wayne County election board’s inital refusal and subsequent approval/ceritification of the Wayne County election results. The interviewer tried their best to get Benson to badmouth the Republcans and President Trump. Benson focused on the subject at hand and did not get into a political discussion about a very political issue. She focused on the results of the election, the state election laws and the process for certifying the election. She was just the facts. Congrats to her.
In a wide-ranging interview with Bridge Michigan, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey was highly critical of a new epidemic order that, beginning Wednesday, will close Michigan restaurant and bar dining rooms, high school and college classrooms, movie theaters and bowling alleys for at least three weeks. Shirkey said the GOP is not planning any immediate legislative action to fight COVID. But he called the new restrictions an attack on the “little guy,” noting that many businesses that will be closed had developed “terrific protocols” to protect customers and staff. As I have posted multiple times this week, I do not understand why the republican led legislature is reluctant to come up with a plan to present to Governor Whitmer. What are they afraid of?
MSU’s football game scheduled against Maryland this week is in jeoprady. The Maryland football program remains sidelined by a coronavirus outbreak, cancelling practice Wednesday for the third consecutive day. The team has not participated in any football activities since Nov. 11, when eight players tested positive for Covid-19. Maryland expects to announce on Thursday whether the game will be played as scheduled on Saturday.
Last year for Thanksgiving the theme for most family gatherings was “no political discussions allowed.”. Based on how things are going this year, last year was the good old days, as most traditional large family gatherings are being cancelled. In my family, Thanksgiving was a day when me, my brothers Larry and Garry, my sister Nancy and our entire families got together for one big meal at one of our homes. It has been a tradition since I was a kid at my parents house. This year will be the first year that we have not gotten together in my lifetime. It is sad.
The latest word from Pfizer regarding the 95% effective rate of their vaccine is very encouraging. The distribution will be challenging as the temperature required to store the vaccine is minus 112 F. Minus 112 is so cold rubber shatters, metals can become brittle and exposed skin freezes almost instantly. Safety will be challenge. Don’t expect to be able to find dry ice on the open market. Dry ice orders are spiking and the backlog to buy some $15,000 medical-grade ultracold freezers is up to six weeks.
Stay safe, wear your mask, social distance and wash your hands.
Amen