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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TOILET PAPER

From Worldometer (new  COVID-19 deaths yesterday):

          DAY  USA  WORLD    Brazil    India    South Africa

June     9     1093     4732         1185        246       82
July    22      1205     7128         1293      1120     572
Aug    12      1504     6556        1242        835     130
Sept     9      1208      6222       1136       1168       82
Oct     21      1225      6849         571        703       85
Nov    25       2304    12025        620        518      118
Dec    30       3880    14748       1224       299      465
Jan     14        4142    15512         1151        189       712
Feb      3       4005    14265       1209       107      398
Mar     2        1989     9490        1726       110      194
April   6         906     11787         4211       631       37
May    4         853    13667        3025      3786      59 
June   1         287    10637         2346      3205      95
 July   7          251      8440        1595         817     411
Aug    4          656    10120        1118         532     423 
Sept  22       2228      9326          839        279     124
Oct    6         2102      8255          543        315       59
Nov   3         1436      7830         186         458       23
Dec    1        1633      8475          266        477       28
Jan    7         2025      6729         148        285      140
       14          2303      7872         238        430      128
       21          2777      9091         396        489      103
       26          3143   10,554         606        575        94
       27          2689   10,261         662        627        71
       28          2732   10,516         779        862      133
Feb  2           2990   12,012         946        991      175
        9           2785   11,827         1295      1241      213
      10           2465   11,110           922        659     203
      11            1917    11,193          1121        804      146
      16           2802   11,593        1046       538       89
      17            2184   11,440        1129        496      435

Summary:
  • Pandemic not exactly going away.
  • Not sure why the new deaths yesterday for South Africa shot up to 435.
  • Interesting that South Africa had 3,056 new cases while Japan had 90,522 new cases and only 253 new deaths.
  • South Korea is surging, yesterday with 93,127 new cases, or #5 in the world...but only 36 new deaths.  Of course, deaths follow new cases by 10-14 days, so let's see what that looks like at the end of this month.
  • Similarly, Singapore had 18,545 new cases and only 4 new deaths.

The New York Times again worked in the Trump effect:

Here is their explanation of the above graphic:
  • In the pandemics's initial months, COVID cases and deaths were higher in Democratic areas because they are home to the major international airports, where the virus entered the country.
  • Then into the first year the contagion swept across the country, so there was no particular partisan differences.
  • After the vaccines became available in earl 2021 liberals (meaning Democrats) were much more willing to get shots than conservatives (or Trump Republicans).
  • By the summer of 2021 this RED Trump line shot up relative to the Democratic Blue line.
  • The greater the Trump landslide, the higher the death count.
  • Just in the last six months of last year there were 135,000 unvaccinated deaths, mostly Trump followers.
  • However, the Omicron variant was so contagious that many Trump-types are now naturally immune.
  • Another study estimates that 73% of Americans are now immune to Omicron.
  • We might be approaching a kind of herd immunity, but now Democrats, who have largely avoided getting infected in the past, are the ones getting sick from this virus, especially if unvaccinated.

Mind you, Trump areas are still showing more deaths.  But the gap is shrinking.  In any case, if you are fully vaccinated and boosted, you're largely safe and if you get infected, the symptoms will be mild to nonexistent.  If you are not, you remain dangerously exposed, will be for some time to come, and will get sicker.

Bad and Good News from the Beijing Winter Olympics.  Kamila Valieva, that 15-year old Russian skater, fell several times and came in fourth, out of medal contention.  Said her coach:

"Why did you let it go?” Tutberidze (Eteri) said to Valieva in a conversation caught on cameras. “Explain it to me, why? Why did [you] stop fighting? You let it go after that axel. Why?"

Then we have American Eileen Gu, who skis for China, gaining a second gold medal for the halfpipe.  No doubt she is the star of these Games.  To quote:

"Just like this all coming together, years and years in the making and it's like letting out a deep breath. I feel exhausted. I mean, God, from opening ceremony until now I've been skiing every single day so I'm really tired, but I feel at peace. I feel grateful. I feel passionate, and I feel proud," she said.

I was running out of toilet paper and just out of curiosity went to Amazon to see what it costs.  Saw that four rolls of Angel Soft went for only $4, including shipping.  So I ordered it.  

Came in two days.  These are double rolls and are indeed soft.  $1/roll.   So that led me to writing this segment about toilet paper.

The average American uses over 100 single rolls--about 21,000 sheets-- each year.  Bleached kraft pulp of 30% softwood trees (Southern pines and Douglas firs) and 70% hardwood trees (gum, maple and oak) is scientifically processed so that it's soft enough, but can disintegrate in water.

According to this article:

  • Have you ever wondered what people used before the invention of toilet paper?

  • In Ancient Romans times, there were no divisions in the latrine with no sanitation standards, so people used the same cleansing sponge used by others.  This was a hockey-type stick with a sponge attached to one end.  After use, you would replace it back in a container filled with vinegar and salt water to clean it.
  • In Ancient Asia, same sort of thing.  A stick with fabric at the end.
  • But aha, in the 6th century, China documented their first use of toilet paper.  The Emperor mandated the production of scented paper sheets measuring two by three feet for the royal family.
  • Ancient Greeks used pessoi or stones or ceramic pottery shards.  What?
  • Same for Muslims, where three stones were common (can't  imagine how this works, and don't want to know) or a mussel shell.

    • When the British arrived in colonial America, they used dried corn cobs.  Again, I don't want to know exactly how they were used.
    • But there was progress, for by the late 18th century, Americans used pages from catalogs and newspapers.
    • Joseph Gayetty sold medicated paper made from aloe vera and hemp in 1857.  Largely failed because it was too expensive.
    • The toilet paper we know was invented around 1880 by the British Perforated Paper Company.  It was coarse.
    • In the U.S, Scott Paper Company arose, but consumers were embarrassed to buy it.  It was sold in brown paper wrapping.
    I haven't had any trouble with toilet paper on my around the world trips.  However, I avoid danger and stress so mostly stay in fabulous hotels.  However, according to this article:
    • India mostly use water to clean after they poop.  Same for the Middle East.
    • In many countries of the Orient, hotels use toilet paper, but it is difficult to find them in stores.
    • In much of Europe, a bidet is used.  How do you use a bidet?  Read this.  In public bathrooms, you many times need to pay to use toilet paper.
    Hawaii has had several shortages of toilet paper during shipping strikes and when a major hurricane is approaching.  During this pandemic, it became a problem.  This will happen again, and again.

    Oh, I went back to Amazon after finishing this piece, and ordered 36 more rolls, which came up to $32 with tax, but no shipping cost, or less than $1/roll.  And, by the way, Walmart sells this same package for $48.  And you need to drive to the store and carry them back home.

    Snoopy and Woodstock wish you a Happy Friday.

    - 

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