IN the early days of the movie industry, at the end of shooting a scene, the director would say, “That’s a wrap”—supposedly an acronym for “Wind Reel and Print.” All the filmed raw footage was sent to the processing lab. Select cast and crew members viewed the “dailies” to judge performances and technicals.
Similar to a “wrap” is an “autopsy” when a pathologist cuts a dead guy open to find out what killed him. The following is either a “wrap” or an “autopsy.”
Beginning on January 24, 2020 with my editorial “China’s health problem is our problem,” I wrote more than one hundred pieces on the pandemic. This involved hundreds of hours of research both health-wise and economically.
I can now say with absolute certainty and confidence that I still do not have a conclusion about what has been and is going on. If you do, then “You’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din!,” and much smarter.
Being simple minded, I am somewhat stunned by these events. November 18th: “Pfizer and BioNTech Conclude Phase 3 Study of Covid-19 Vaccine Candidate, Meeting All Primary and Secondary Efficacy Endpoints.” Then on December 16th, “New SARS-CoV-2 Variant Spreading Rapidly in UK.”
While the “mutations are not expected to reduce effectiveness of vaccines,” the timing of the virus mutation is impeccable. The UK was shut down from the rest of Europe just as the UK/EU Brexit negotiations were at a critical phase. In May, “Coronavirus mutations: Much ado about nothing—CNN.” Now, “Genetics experts worry coronavirus vaccines might not work quite as well against UK variant,” also from CNN.
The mother of all coincidences: Virus mutates within a month of a vaccine(s) becoming available. Good job virus. It starts in the UK, which is ready to leave the European Union without a “deal.” Continental Europe closes its borders with the UK. Then “Covid-19 isolation gives Britain a taste of ‘no-deal’ Brexit chaos.” “Dear UK, you have been warned. Love, the EU.”
I have had many incredible experiences in my life. But I can say without equivocation that 2020 was my most remarkable year. That contrasts with two local pundits. One wrote, “It has been an awful year.” The other said, “For most of us, 2020 is a forgetful year.” Most of life is all a matter of perspective.
The number 4 is considered unlucky in Chinese because it is nearly homophonous to the word “death.” The British Medical Journal reported a study of mortality in the US over a 25-year period. On the fourth day of the month in California, Asians were 27 percent more likely to die of a heart attack. In English, the number “four” sounds like “fortunate.” A table with four legs is the most stable.
Making broad generalizations about the horrible effects of the pandemic is a fine “intellectual exercise.” I, too, had a very close friend suffer miserably through his Covid illness, and yes, I feared for his survival.
But I will remember 2020 as the year when my family and neighbors actively looked for ways to help other people suffering more. It was an awful year for a family that lost their commercial remodeling company. It is a year to remember as they built a now thriving fruit/vegetable business.
Probably, I am the unique exception. All the plans I made for 2020 “died” from Covid. Yet, despite all the hardship, I have never been closer to my wife and sons. And as a family, we can take anything 2021 throws at us. Happy New Year.
E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Visit my web site at www.mangunonmarkets.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis tools provided by the COL Financial Group Inc.