What a difference…

What a difference two years make - or not.
About two years ago, an unidentified and virulent illness began circulating. That illness, Covid-19, has gone on to claim more than 5 million confirmed deaths around the world.
Alas, WHO says Europe is “once again at center of Covid pandemic” with cases at near-record levels and 500,000 more deaths forecast by February 
Worldwide (Map) 
November 4, 2021 –248,312,000 confirmed infections; 5,026,000 deaths
November 5, 2020 – 48,136,225 confirmed infections; 1,225,915 deaths
November 4, 2019 - 0 confirmed infections; 0 deaths
Worldwide vaccinations: 7,147,376,200 That’s 7.1 billion.

US (Map) 
November 4, 2021 – 46,261,150 confirmed infections; 750,580 deaths
November 5, 2020 – 9,487,470 confirmed infections; 237,730 deaths
November 4, 2019 - 0 confirmed infections; 0 deaths

SA (Coronavirus portal) 
November 4, 2021 – 2,922,800 confirmed infections; 89,220 deaths
November 5, 2020 – 730,500 confirmed infections; 19,585 deaths deaths
November 4, 2019 - 0 confirmed infections; 0 deaths

CDC Covid tracker 

News blues…

In Colorado, the surge in Covid cases could force hospitals to ration services. The increase can be attributed in part to the almost 40% of the state population that has not been vaccinated  And, the UK is the first country to approve oral antiviral molnupiravir to treat Covid. Pills can be taken twice daily at home and priority will be given to elderly patients and those with health vulnerabilities  

Will anti-vaxers take pills?
Are we about to uncover another layer of anti-vaxer philosophy?

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The Lincoln Project:

Last Week in the Republican Party  (2:03 mins)

Healthy planet, anyone?

Good news on the human front: Diwali begins. Last year, while in KZN, the Diwali celebration had me prick up my ears: sounds like gun shots at night had me nervously asking neighbors what, if anything, had gone on overnight. (It is way more likely, in America, that what sounds like gunfire, is is gunfire – rather than a happy celebration.) I learned,  “Oh, that’s Diwali…” – the Hindu festival of lights. I'd heard fire crackers /fire works. This, as South Africa, a smaller country than the US (albeit about 3 times larger than California), has diverse cultures living in close proximity. Diwali is part of what happens in small and large communities – and shared by all – with no gunfire or crazy shooters involved. A nice change of pace. Enjoy pictures >> 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Time change afoot. There’s an ongoing conversation about the necessity for some states to practice day light savings time and for other states not to practice. As all things in the US, it’s complicated . For this year, at least, in the US day light savings time began on Sunday, March 14 and will end, Sunday, November 7, at 2:00am. Pic DLST. 

As shown here, today, in California, the sun rose at 7:38am and will set at 6:06am. (The chance of rain – 10% - was way off: it rained quite nicely overnight.)
In South Africa, the sun rose at 5:02am and will set at 6:23am.

Ah, sunlight... gonna miss you.