We've been living now for most of a month under a new world order, and it's gradually dawning on us how drastically things are changing. For example one of the 20th century's most exciting innovations, jet travel, has been, for the moment at least, all but abolished.
People are too frightened to fly.
We hear stories of pilots who, after giving the flying time and altitude, offer instructions on how to overpower any fellow passengers brandishing paper cutters. A friend travelling from San Francisco about 10 days ago said the airport, usually jammed with people, was almost empty. His flight to Edmonton was cancelled for lack of passengers, and the plane he did take was about one quarter full. Another friend tells me that Waikiki Beach in Hawaii is deserted at a time of year when the fall crowds are usually well under way. Airlines are suffering losses in the billions and mass layoffs are planned.