Pandemic, Week 97 (Loose Ends)

This week Senate republicans (along with with Senators Manchin and Sinema) defeated efforts to change the filibuster rules, resulting in Democrats not being able to force a vote on the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. Tensions continue along the Russo-Ukrainian border while "lethal support" from the United States arrived in the Ukraine for defense against a Russian invasion.  Conservative MPs are calling for the resignation of Boris Johnson due to a party held at Downing Street during a strict lockdown. Indonesia moved its capitol from Jakarta (which is sinking) to Nusantara, on the island of Borneo. The M&M candy characters were revamped to make them more inclusive, upsetting one Fox News Hosts who finds the new versions, "less sexy," Actors/comedians Meat Loaf and Louis Anderson died this week as did Former Vice President Mike Pence's pet rabbit (and gay icon due to a segment on Last Week Tonight) Marlon Bundo died. 

The world reached 349.6 million COVID cases and 5.6 million deaths this week, of which the US accounted for 71.7 million cases and 889,000 deaths. 251 million Americans (76 percent) have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 210 million (63 percent) are fully vaccinated. A federal judge in Texas blocked the vaccine mandate for federal workers (the Department of Justice is appealing). Virginia's new Governor, Glenn Youngkin, reversed the state's mask mandates for schools, prompting lawsuits in some school districts. Australia deported unvaccinated tennis player Novak Djokovic just before start of the Australian Open after his second visa was cancelled because he was a threat to public health and order.

We spent the week finishing things. Nora submitted their DCYOP video jury and their National History Day source documentation. Owen had his in-person Duke jury (complete with tuxedo) on Wednesday and spent the rest of the week catching up on assignments before the end of term. Allen and Elaine completed the appropriately maddening Van Gogh Starry Night puzzle, which due to the number of hours and profanities associated with its assemblage, we have decided to have it framed rather than ever take it apart. 

But most importantly we finished the week with a lovely dinner at Steve & Megan's where Steve and Allen discussed optimal meat temperatures and sears, Megan advised Nora and I (particularly on what constitutes a "stiff peak" stage) as we made Nora's first ever chocolate soufflé, and Gabriel and Owen (and ultimately Nora) watched Community episodes while playing video games.

(To see all of this week's pictures, click here.)