My China series continues today, but first, a few comments on mass shootings in the USA.  From the   New York Times   this morning: If anything, the chart, which uses data from 2017 and 2018, understates America’s problem. The U.S. rate of gun homicides has increased in recent years, according to the Small Arms Survey. The data exposes a clear trend: Where there are more guns, there are more gun deaths. Studies have found this to be true at the state and national level, and for homicides, suicides, mass shootings and   police shootings . Stricter regulations on firearms   are linked to fewer gun deaths . The latest  Lunar New Year Monterey Park incident was the  33rd Mass Shooting of 2023 .   The month isn't yet over.   Eleven killed, and the deadliest in the U.S. since the May 2022 Uvalde, Texas tragedy.  There were  647 of these last year, and more than 44,000 people  in the country died due to gun violence.  It's pretty clear why. Why?  Too many guns, Republicans, the Nati

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