Comparing some numbers

…whatever they mean

The United States Population as of June 13, 2020, based on Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data was 330,906,997.

All Covid-19 deaths in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control, as of June 12, 2020 were 98,695.

• Deaths in week ending 2/1/2020 1 (initial death)
• Deaths in week ending 4/18/2020 16,207 (highest point)
• Deaths in week ending 6/6/2020 851 (most recent data)

The U. S. population in 1968 was 205,805,755.

The 1968 influenza A (H3N2) virus killed about 100,000 in the United States.

The U. S. population in 1958 was 180,788,387.

The 1957-1958 influenza A (H2N2) virus killed about 116,000 in the United States.


[Note: by the time this posts, the most recent data that I used will be slightly outdated.]

Columbia remembered

Many East Texans remember this morning 10 years ago, when the skies above shook and sounded for no apparent reason. Our windows rattled and our dog ran in circles, not knowing where to hide. Then, as quickly as it came, all was back to silence. It was a Saturday morning and we were headed to Lufkin for some reason I don't remember. Even though we listened to the radio it was quite some time before we learned the source of the explosion -- the Space Shuttle Columbia had crashed. 

On this 10th anniversary we remember this disaster and the seven crew members who died: Rick Husband, William C. McCool, Michael P. Anderson, David M. Brown, Kalpana Chawla, Laurel Clark, and Ilan Ramon.