News blues
The BA.2 omicron subvariant of the coronavirus has been on [US radars] for months — scientists conducting wastewater surveillance noticed it back in January. BA.2 first received widespread attention in early February as it appeared to drive a large wave of infections in the United Kingdom. And ever since, some health experts have been warning that this new iteration of the virus — even faster-spreading than the super-contagious original omicron variant — could create another wave in the pandemic.Read more >>
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The rise of the ivermectin cult is one of the most nonsensical storylines — in a sea of nonsensical storylines — to emerge during the pandemic. Even now, as Covid begins to become a less dominant force in our lives, the ivermectin bunkum continues.Read “Why the Covid cult of ivermectin won't die" >>
There have been several recent large, well-done, clinical trials, including one published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday, that definitively show, according to one of the study’s authors, “there’s really no sign of any benefit.”
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In the pandemic’s early days there were laboratory studies — that is, research done in petri dishes and not involving actual humans — that suggested the drug, which is used to treat parasites in horses, had antiviral properties. (This kind of work rarely translates into clinical application.) There were also some observational studies that seemed promising.
But as soon as data from more rigorous and comprehensive studies started to come in, it became clear that ivermectin was not a magical cure. In July, for example, a systematic review by the highly respected and independent Cochrane Collaboration — an international academic organization that does evidence reviews to inform clinical practice — concluded that there was no good evidence to support the use of the drug to treat or prevent Covid.
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The Lincoln Project:Brian Schatz is Right (1:17 mins)
Doctored (0:42 mins)
This man votes (0:32 mins)
Truth Social vs Twitter (0:30 mins)
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On war…
South Africa had abstained three times since March 2 from resolutions in the United Nations General Assembly on the Ukraine war, which were highly critical of Russia, because Pretoria believed that condemning Russia’s aggression would not advance the cause of peace – and could even provoke Russia to further “offences”.Read more >>
Healthy planet, anyone?
The [US] federal government has begun tallying the damage climate change could do to its economy and budget. Two trillion dollars a year is the future cost of climate inaction. Time is running out to avoid catastrophic global warming.Read more >>
The week in wildlife – photo essay >>
The week in wildlife – photo essay >>
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…
Yesterday, the lone backhoe and driver arrived – and departed 15 minutes later. Teeti – project overseer – phoned me to report drizzly rain meant wet terrain and weather too cold for young workers.Fair enough.
Except… drizzly rain and cold weather predictions make me skeptical about the lone backhoe and driver and the young workers returning when the weather improves.
My ace in the hole?
I have Teeti’s phone number. And I'll use it....
To encourage otters moving back, I visited a local animal rehab center. While they don’t currently have otters for rehab, nor do they often, this property is now on their list as a prospective otter home.
I’ll modify the fence along the stream and pond area to make it inviting to otters (and other creatures) and safe from elderly dogs.
Water lilies and otters: eats shoot and leaves.
My ace in the hole?
I have Teeti’s phone number. And I'll use it....
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Apparently, before my late mother erected fencing along the stream edge, for security and to coral her many dogs, otter sightings were not uncommon. The stream edge supports reeds, trees, shrubs, and plenty of vegetative camouflage for the shy creatures. It’s likely a confluence of hunting, fencing, and water flow (think blocked culverts) that has resulted in no recent reports or sightings of otters. To encourage otters moving back, I visited a local animal rehab center. While they don’t currently have otters for rehab, nor do they often, this property is now on their list as a prospective otter home.
I’ll modify the fence along the stream and pond area to make it inviting to otters (and other creatures) and safe from elderly dogs.
Water lilies and otters: eats shoot and leaves.
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Ugh! Cold today! 52 F/11 C. Raining, too. KZN, South Africa:
Sunrise: 6:14am
Sunset: 5:46pm
San Francisco Bay Area
Sunrise: 6:42am
Sunset: 7:39pm
