Some days…

An oldie but goodie: U2 – Some days are better than others  (audio only 4:08 mins)

News blues…

SA records 163 Covid-19 deaths in 24 hours 

Of the new deaths, 71 were recorded in Limpopo, 37 were in the North West, 24 were in Gauteng, 16 were in the Northern Cape, nine were in the Free State, five were in KwaZulu-Natal and one was in the Western Cape. There were no cases recorded in the Eastern Cape or Mpumalanga.
According to health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize, there were 1,467,254 recoveries recorded to date, at a recovery rate of 95%.
There have also been 220,129 health workers vaccinated so far.

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Beware! Experts expect third wave to hit by end of March The third Covid-19 wave is due to hit the two big Eastern Cape metros of Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City by the end of March/beginning of April.

This is sooner than expected and we are confident of the prediction as it is based on a range of local and regional data and on a year of national modelling, from the time Covid-19 hit SA in March 2020.
This scientific evidence informs us about the waves and how we can anticipate them.
If we act in time, and ensure all the prevention protocols are being followed, and the health services facilities and processes are in place, we can control the spread of the virus.
If we do not act in time, the virus will run rampant, our facilities will be overwhelmed and in all probability it will lead to a peak in the number of deaths.

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• Tracking Covid-19 vaccinations worldwide 
• South African experts to follow for up-to-date and accurate Covid information… 

Healthy planet, anyone?

The expansive coast along Mozambique’s Jangamo Bay offers a warm welcome to its visitors with serene blue waters, rolling sand dunes and idyllic palm trees. Local nonprofit marine conservation organization Love The Oceans https://lovetheoceans.org/ has been working to transform this fishing-fueled economy into an economy supported by ecotourism backed by a healthy marine ecosystem.
Read “Jangamo Bay in Mozambique declared Mission Blue Hope Spot” >> 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Nothing more than usual going on but … some days are better than others. 
Couple of days after my daughter purchased her ticket to ride  the news breaks about a fast moving and upcoming “third wave” of Covid infections expected in Eastern Cape. (Wednesday’s post shares a letter about the woeful state of Eastern Cape’s medical system .) My daughter will not be near Eastern Cape, but no that no assurance that virus from Eastern Cape will not be near her/us in KZN. Should she cancel her trip?
After a year of lockdown, it is difficult to remain emotionally and psychologically balanced. More so when even the institutions one usually believes are skewed toward the rich and powerful but at least (mostly) work as one expects are now in jeopardy of total failure. Take Zuma’s ongoing efforts to destroy an already rickety justice system in South Africa  … or ongoing Republicans efforts to deny Americans’ right to vote  ... Or Trump former lawyer Stephanie Powell’s defense that “reasonable people would not accept such statements as fact…” 
Ya can't make this stuff up.

Crazy times.

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But at least the sun also rises and sets, albeit indicating the approach of winter...:
Feb 26: sunrise 5:47am; sunset 6:33pm.
March 2: sunrise 5:50am; sunset 6:29pm.
March 9: sunrise 5:55am; sunset 6:21pm.
March 18: sunrise 5:00am; sunset 6:11pm.
March 25: sunrise 6:05am; sunset 6:01pm.

Virus mass distribution

For a Trump official, US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin’s slip of the tongue  during a telephone interview was uncharacteristically honest: “We’re working on mass distribution of the virus.”
Likely his goal was spinning reality and saying, “mass distribution of a vaccine.” 

Shakespeare said it first: “the truth will out.” 

Will Trump say to Mnuchin what Trump's famous for? "You're fired!" 

News blues…

Another horrific milestone in a month full of devastating Covid-19 records in the country. November already accounts for almost a quarter of all Covid-19 cases and 9% of deaths.  The number of US coronavirus cases surpassed 12 million Saturday - an increase of more than 1 million cases in less than a week. The number of US coronavirus cases surpassed 12 million Saturday -- an increase of more than 1 million cases in less than a week.
South Dakota is the state with highest rates of Covid in the country, replete with residents and a governor who refuse to pay attention to safety…   (4:11 mins) 

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Hunger for Thanksgiving? Los Angeles California in dire straits ….  (2:50 mins)

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SA records 86 new Covid-19 deaths as cases climb to 765,409 

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has pleaded with G20 Leaders to ensure all countries have access to the COVID-19 vaccine once it is available, saying the global recovery needs to be inclusive.  
"An immediate task is to ensure that there is equitable and affordable access for all countries to the COVID-19 vaccine once it is developed.

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Healthy planet, anyone?

Mission Blue  is a not-for-profit organization geared “to inspire action to explore and protect oceans and to unite a global coalition for an upwelling of public awareness, access and support for a worldwide network of marine protected areas termed Hope Spots.” 

Cape RADD (Research and Diver Development) became the newly-appointed Champions of the False Bay Hope Spot. Run by a small team of passionate marine biologists and conservationists, Cape RADD serves as a platform for researchers in the False Bay area of Cape Town, South Africa.
Cape RADD’s team of scientists aim to better understand the underwater world by using a variety of sampling techniques including transects, quadrats, remote underwater video and mark-recapture to monitor long-term changes to biodiversity in the area. They conduct a number of research projects including kelp forest grazer density and distribution, fish and shark population estimates, microplastic pollution, and more.   Learn more >> 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

I am rediscovering my groove after despondency, fear, anxiety dogged my last ten days. Somehow, resilience won out. I’m back in action.

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Today, I bid farewell to the elderly concrete mixer that gifted me 5 bags full of compost. The last batch surprised: the raw material was damp after sitting in the mixer during two thunderstorms. Instead of producing drier, spreadable compost, it produced dozens of compost balls in a variety of sizes: ping pong ball, tennis ball, baseball, even a pair of semi-deflated-footballs. Not perfectly round, but off-center, the collection of balls resemble animal dung ranging in animals the size of cane rat to rhinoceros. Gardening. Gotta love it: never a dull moment.
My waders got a workout, too. Geared up - waders, gloves, sunhat with pert guinea fowl feather, and slathered in sunscreen - I entered the rain-swollen pond to weed out excess pond lilies and freshwater grasses. I recycled this vegetation by forming a new footpath through the far reaches of the garden.
The plum tree is prolific this year, with dozens of slowly ripening fruit. Naturally, this indicates dozens of future visits by the neighborhood’s monkey troop. Already the troop, numbering more than 50 fearless individuals, including this year’s crop of youngsters, enter the garden at will, pull up potatoes, root through zucchini plants, and enjoy mulberries and bird seed.
I predict too much monkey business….