'David Sedaris, Dressed Up With Nowhere to Go' diff viewer (3/4)

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David Sedaris, Dressed Up With Nowhere to Go	David Sedaris, Dressed Up With Nowhere to Go
2020-07-01 10:49:00 UTC	2020-07-01 21:26:30 UTC (about 11 hours later)
When New York went into lockdown, David Sedaris settled into his apartment on the Upper East Side and canceled his 45-city book tour.	When New York went into lockdown, David Sedaris settled into his apartment on the Upper East Side and canceled his 45-city book tour.
“I had bought all these outfits, and I was so looking forward to wearing them,” he said, mentioning with particular wistfulness a lavishly ruffled black Comme de Garçons jacket — “a cross between when Mammy was in mourning after the baby died in ‘Gone With the Wind,’ and something that P.T. Barnum would wear” — now hanging in his closet, an artifact from an alternative reality.	“I had bought all these outfits, and I was so looking forward to wearing them,” he said, mentioning with particular wistfulness a lavishly ruffled black Comme de Garçons jacket — “a cross between when Mammy was in mourning after the baby died in ‘Gone With the Wind,’ and something that P.T. Barnum would wear” — now hanging in his closet, an artifact from an alternative reality.
But Sedaris’s realization that it’s no fun dressing up in semi-satirical garments when there is no one to see you is of course not the only thing he has had to contend with. The author of 10 books of autobiographical essays and short fictional pieces, Sedaris, 63, is a keen anatomist of the skewed intricacies of human behavior, and there has been a lot of behavior to sort through at the moment.	But Sedaris’s realization that it’s no fun dressing up in semi-satirical garments when there is no one to see you is of course not the only thing he has had to contend with. The author of 10 books of autobiographical essays and short fictional pieces, Sedaris, 63, is a keen anatomist of the skewed intricacies of human behavior, and there has been a lot of behavior to sort through at the moment.
First, his own. He has two books coming out: “The Best of Me,” a collection of his favorite essays, in the fall, and “Carnival of Snackeries,” a second volume of diaries, tentatively scheduled for next year. But his life, like everyone else’s, is more or less on hold.	First, his own. He has two books coming out: “The Best of Me,” a collection of his favorite essays, in the fall, and “Carnival of Snackeries,” a second volume of diaries, tentatively scheduled for next year. But his life, like everyone else’s, is more or less on hold.
“I figured out early on that there’s absolutely nothing I can do about this,” he said. “That should be obvious, and for some reason it wasn’t. I kept thinking, ‘I should be able to fix this or control it.’ Whenever I feel sorry for myself, I think, ‘Everyone in the world is going through this.’ That makes it much easier.”	“I figured out early on that there’s absolutely nothing I can do about this,” he said. “That should be obvious, and for some reason it wasn’t. I kept thinking, ‘I should be able to fix this or control it.’ Whenever I feel sorry for myself, I think, ‘Everyone in the world is going through this.’ That makes it much easier.”
As he spoke, Sedaris sounded short of breath, a worrisome symptom in the current climate. In fact, he said, it was because he has not let the pandemic thwart his efforts to rack up miles on Fitbit, the physical-activity-recording device.	As he spoke, Sedaris sounded short of breath, a worrisome symptom in the current climate. In fact, he said, it was because he has not let the pandemic thwart his efforts to rack up miles on Fitbit, the physical-activity-recording device.
“I’m walking in my apartment,” he said into the phone. “Right now.”	“I’m walking in my apartment,” he said into the phone. “Right now.”
He considers it a competitive sport.	He considers it a competitive sport.
“I destroy everyone I’m a Fitbit friend of,” Sedaris said. “Like, I might be walking 130 miles a week, and they’re walking 30 miles a week.” But recently he has made a new Fitbit friend, someone whose determination to see and raise him mile for mile has forced Sedaris to increase his own efforts. Some days he walks nearly 20 miles.	“I destroy everyone I’m a Fitbit friend of,” Sedaris said. “Like, I might be walking 130 miles a week, and they’re walking 30 miles a week.” But recently he has made a new Fitbit friend, someone whose determination to see and raise him mile for mile has forced Sedaris to increase his own efforts. Some days he walks nearly 20 miles.
At home, this involves pacing the floor like Gus, the neurotic polar bear who compulsively trudged back and forth in his enclosure at the Central Park Zoo. But throughout the pandemic Sedaris has also been walking, masked, to the far ends of New York City.	At home, this involves pacing the floor like Gus, the neurotic polar bear who compulsively trudged back and forth in his enclosure at the Central Park Zoo. But throughout the pandemic Sedaris has also been walking, masked, to the far ends of New York City.
“The other week I walked all the way to Astoria,” he said. “Everywhere I go it smells the same, and it smells like my breath.” He generally has two outdoor shifts, the second after midnight, so that he (or Fitbit) can apply those miles to the next day’s tally.	“The other week I walked all the way to Astoria,” he said. “Everywhere I go it smells the same, and it smells like my breath.” He generally has two outdoor shifts, the second after midnight, so that he (or Fitbit) can apply those miles to the next day’s tally.
“I like to start the next day with six miles under my belt,” Sedaris said. Although he is a compulsive collector of trash in the English countryside, where he lives much of the time, he has resisted the temptation to clean up the streets of New York. “I’m not against it,” he said, “but everything changes once you start doing that — you can’t stop.”	“I like to start the next day with six miles under my belt,” Sedaris said. Although he is a compulsive collector of trash in the English countryside, where he lives much of the time, he has resisted the temptation to clean up the streets of New York. “I’m not against it,” he said, “but everything changes once you start doing that — you can’t stop.”
These excursions have showed him the city at its best. He is constantly amazed, he said, at the high caliber of New Yorkers’ discourse.	These excursions have showed him the city at its best. He is constantly amazed, he said, at the high caliber of New Yorkers’ discourse.
“You’ll be in the park, and suddenly you’ll hear some very articulate person talking about what a horrible person Donald Trump is,” Sedaris said. “They’re so articulate and thoughtful, and they’re not regurgitating what they’ve already heard. Usually people who come up with that stuff are writing for newspapers, or they’re on TV.”	“You’ll be in the park, and suddenly you’ll hear some very articulate person talking about what a horrible person Donald Trump is,” Sedaris said. “They’re so articulate and thoughtful, and they’re not regurgitating what they’ve already heard. Usually people who come up with that stuff are writing for newspapers, or they’re on TV.”
He has also seen the city at its most vulnerable, its late-night streets dotted with the homeless and destitute; and occasionally at its weirdest.	He has also seen the city at its most vulnerable, its late-night streets dotted with the homeless and destitute; and occasionally at its weirdest.
“I was at Times Square at 1:30 in the morning and there was a guy in a wheelchair who was pushing himself along and he said, ‘Look at that clown,’” Sedaris related. “I thought he was talking about me. But then I followed his eyes and there was a clown, with purple hair and a red nose.”	“I was at Times Square at 1:30 in the morning and there was a guy in a wheelchair who was pushing himself along and he said, ‘Look at that clown,’” Sedaris related. “I thought he was talking about me. But then I followed his eyes and there was a clown, with purple hair and a red nose.”
More recently, he has walked city streets crowded with people, finding camaraderie and shared humanity in the Black Lives Matter protests.	More recently, he has walked city streets crowded with people, finding camaraderie and shared humanity in the Black Lives Matter protests.
“The people are kind and thoughtful — always distributing snacks and water,” Sedaris said. “‘Do you need sunblock? Hand sanitizer? It’s nice to be part of a group, and I like walking down the center of the street. Over time I came to think of the marches the way I think of buses and subways. ‘I’ll just take this BLM down to 23rd,’ I’d tell myself. Later I’d maybe get a crosstown BLM to Second Avenue, then walk home from there.”	“The people are kind and thoughtful — always distributing snacks and water,” Sedaris said. “‘Do you need sunblock? Hand sanitizer? It’s nice to be part of a group, and I like walking down the center of the street. Over time I came to think of the marches the way I think of buses and subways. ‘I’ll just take this BLM down to 23rd,’ I’d tell myself. Later I’d maybe get a crosstown BLM to Second Avenue, then walk home from there.”
Those who follow Sedaris’s autobiographical writing, which has softened and become more emotional and self-reflective in recent years, will recall that the author and his father have long had a contentious relationship. They made a kind of peace last year, Sedaris wrote in March, as his father lay dying in a hospice.	Those who follow Sedaris’s autobiographical writing, which has softened and become more emotional and self-reflective in recent years, will recall that the author and his father have long had a contentious relationship. They made a kind of peace last year, Sedaris wrote in March, as his father lay dying in a hospice.
In a quintessentially Sedaris move, though, his father did not die. He rallied, left the hospice and is now in an assisted-living facility, in good health considering that he is 97 and a global pandemic is underway.	In a quintessentially Sedaris move, though, his father did not die. He rallied, left the hospice and is now in an assisted-living facility, in good health considering that he is 97 and a global pandemic is underway.
“I’m pretty sure my father wants a crowd at his funeral,” Sedaris said, of his father’s ability to hang on until crowded funerals are possible again. “In a lot of ways I feel fortunate to have had him. I wouldn’t have changed anything, because I needed somebody to sort of push against.”	“I’m pretty sure my father wants a crowd at his funeral,” Sedaris said, of his father’s ability to hang on until crowded funerals are possible again. “In a lot of ways I feel fortunate to have had him. I wouldn’t have changed anything, because I needed somebody to sort of push against.”
~~Updated June ~~30,~~ 2020~~	Updated June 24, 2020
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles.	Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles.
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.	A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.	The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.	The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.	So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.	Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.	A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.	The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
	Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)	If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.	If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
Many authors have taken this opportunity to connect to audiences virtually. But don’t look for Sedaris online anytime soon.	Many authors have taken this opportunity to connect to audiences virtually. But don’t look for Sedaris online anytime soon.
“My goal is to get through this without ever going on Zoom or FaceTime or Skype,” he said. “People are like, Can you record a message of hope for all the people who were going to come to your show?’ and I’m like, ‘No, because it’s not like there aren’t things to watch already.’”	“My goal is to get through this without ever going on Zoom or FaceTime or Skype,” he said. “People are like, Can you record a message of hope for all the people who were going to come to your show?’ and I’m like, ‘No, because it’s not like there aren’t things to watch already.’”
Sedaris himself subscribed to Netflix in January. “I was the last person on Earth to get it,” he said. “Literally the last person. I thought we’d spend a lot of time watching things, but Hugh” — that would be his boyfriend, Hugh Hamrick, an artist and a familiar character in the Sedaris oeuvre — “falls asleep, so you can’t watch anything with him.”	Sedaris himself subscribed to Netflix in January. “I was the last person on Earth to get it,” he said. “Literally the last person. I thought we’d spend a lot of time watching things, but Hugh” — that would be his boyfriend, Hugh Hamrick, an artist and a familiar character in the Sedaris oeuvre — “falls asleep, so you can’t watch anything with him.”
In normal times, Sedaris travels so frequently that the two are rarely in one place together for long.	In normal times, Sedaris travels so frequently that the two are rarely in one place together for long.