Finished and klaar?*

Worldwide (Map) 
February 2, 2023 – 671,115,152 confirmed infections; 6,836,400 deaths
February 3, 2022 - 386,005,000 confirmed infections; 5,704,100 deaths
February 4, 2021 – 104,367,000 confirmed infections; 2,268,000 deaths

US (Map) 
February 2, 2023 – 102,468,581 confirmed infections; 1,109,745 deaths
February 3, 2022 - 386,005,000 confirmed infections; 5,704,100 deaths
February 4, 2021 – 104,367,000 confirmed infections; 2,268,000 deaths

SA (Coronavirus portal) 
February 2, 2023 – 4,056,201 confirmed infections; 102,595 deaths
February 3, 2022 - 3,613,000 confirmed infections; 95,465 deaths
February 4, 2021 - 1,463,016 confirmed infections; 45,344 deaths

Post from:
February 3, 2022 - “Culture shock” 
February 3, 2021 – “Mutant variants” 

* "Finished and klaar" means finished and finished in English and Afrikaans. In other words, more than finished, double finished!

News blues…

According to the Biden administration, Covid’s ravages upon our planet will be over in May – at least here in the US (and where else counts? [cynical jab at America’s assumed preeminence]. Specifically,

The Biden administration will end the Covid-19 national and public health emergencies on May 11, the White House said Monday in a major step meant to signal that the crisis era of the pandemic is over.
The move would restructure the federal government’s coronavirus response and unwind a sprawling set of flexibilities put in place nearly three years ago that paved the way for free Covid treatments and tests. The White House disclosed its plan in response to two House Republican measures aimed at immediately ending the emergencies, calling those proposals “a grave disservice to the American people.”

Woo hoo! (Let’s hope someone tells those pesky mutating viruses.) 

Read more >> 

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On war… and culture war
Loss and resilience: Photos from a year of war in Ukraine >> 

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The Lincoln Project:
Default  (0:47 mins)
Nikki Haley  (0:30 mins)
Elise knew  (0:55 mins)
RNC chaos  (1:40 mins)
Competition  (0:25 mins)
Who is The Lincoln Project? Last week in the Republican Party – January 24, 2023  (1:26 mins)
Last week in the Republican Party – January 31, 2023  (2:08 mins)

Healthy planet, anyone?

After decades of being killed for their fur, then because considered “nuisances”, beavers are now sought after as flood control engineers.
Take a quick tour of beavers, nature's engineers, making a comeback in UK >> 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Life goes on. Meso Mary prepares to begin immunotherapy – Yervoy and Opdivo – with her first session on February 9. 

Nervous? Yes, but so far undeterred. Me, too.

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SF Bay Area:
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