Privilege

Worldwide (Map) 
May 27, 168,418,000 confirmed infections; 3,499,000 deaths
April 22, 2021 – 143,503,705 confirmed infections; 3,056,000 deaths
Tracker for worldwide vaccination rate >> 

US (Map) 
May 27, 33,190,300 confirmed infections; 592,000,000 deaths
April 22, 2021 – 31,862,100 confirmed infections; 569,500 deaths

SA (Tracker) 
May 27, x1,645,600 confirmed infections; 56,100 deaths
April 22, 2021 – 1,568,500 confirmed infections; 53,900 deaths

Down memory lane with a post from one year ago - April 23, 2020: “Try it; what have you got to lose?” 

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Tracking Covid-19:

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

News blues

Half of U.S. adults now fully vaccinated against COVID-19…and more than 60% have received at least one dose, the CDC reported. 

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Experts suggest limiting gatherings as SA's Covid-19 positivity rate breaches 10%. It was the first time since mid-November that the positivity rate breached 10% on an upward trajectory 

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Locally, the vaccination programs continue. Lines are long – up to 4 hours in some areas. I’m amazed at how many South Africans display diehard skepticism about taking the vaccination. On the other hand, South Africans experience “the government” as being particularly inept if not downright dangerous. I’m happy that I’m privileged enough to avoid having to make the decision here and have the option to be vaccinated in California.

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The Lincoln Project: Conspiracy  (0:55 mins)

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Broke the news of my pending departure to my mother… and introduced her to my son-in-law. I explained he’d visit her while I’m gone and take care of the dogs and the house.
She looked him over, then asked about the tattoos on his knuckles: the words “give” and “take.” He explained it was his way of ensuring he’d never be hired for a “mainstream job”. Then he added, “Well, these days, tattoos are mainstream so I’m not sure that reason is valid anymore.” My mother was fascinated. Right in front of her, talking to her, visiting her in the future, was a person with tattoos! Imagine!
She proceeded to explain that tattoos are alright on men, crinkled her nose in disapproval, and added, “but not on women.” Clearly, women should never be tattooed. We nodded to her implied assessment: not ladylike!

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I’m a pre-travel bundle of nerves. I’m certain that something will go wrong to ensure my travel plans, er, crash and burn, that I’ll be forced to remain in SA, that taking care of my own life and responsibilities in the States can’t succeed, that my houseboat will sink before I can stop it….
These are tough thoughts for a control freak.

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Had my pre-flight Covid test: elongated super Q-tip tickled my throat and each nostril. Voila. Done. Results by tomorrow. Then, whoosh! Off to Californy!

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Only two more days of early darkness – then, whoosh, back to California – and spring on the river!
Feb 26: sunrise 5:47am; sunset 6:33pm.
March 2: sunrise 5:50am; sunset 6:29pm.
March 16: sunrise 5:59am; sunset 6:13pm.
March 29: sunrise 6:07am; sunset 5:58pm.
April 1: sunrise 6:09am; sunset 5:54pm.
April 15: sunrise 6:18am; sunset 5:39pm.
April 25: sunrise 6:23am; sunset 5:30pm.
May 1: sunrise 6:27am; sunset 5:24pm.
May 15: sunrise 6:35am; sunset 5:15pm.
May 27: sunrise 6:43am; sunset 5:09pm.

Dilemmas

The one year anniversary of lockdown approaches.
It’s been a hellava year, hasn’t it?

Worldwide (Map) 
March 18, 2021 - 120,740,000 confirmed infections; 2,672,000 deaths
February 18, 2021 - 109,885,600 confirmed infections; 2,430,000 deaths
January 14, 2021 – 92,314,000 confirmed infections; 1,977,900 deaths

US (Map)
March 18, 2021 – 29,550,000 confirmed infections; 537,000 deaths
February 18, 2021 - 27,824,660 confirmed infections; 490,450 deaths
January 14, 2021 – 23,071,100 confirmed infections; 384,635 deaths

SA (Coronavirus portal)
March 18, 2021 – 1,531,000 confirmed infections; 51,560 deaths
February 18, 2021 – 1,496,440 confirmed infections; 48,480 deaths
January 14, 2021 – 1,278,305 confirmed infections; 35,140 deaths

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Tracking Covid-19 vaccinations worldwide 

News blues…

Total number of vaccines administered in South Africa to date: 157,286 out of the 500,000 health workers targeted after SA kick-started the vaccination campaign with Johnson & Johnson's one-dose vaccine last month.

According to health deputy minister Joe Phaahla, SA secured 20 million vaccines from Pfizer and additional supplies through the Covax facility and the African Union.
However, the vaccines were not due to arrive as soon as the government had hoped and this could likely see SA missing its mark to vaccine 1.5 million people by the end of the month.

Read more on this >> 

Healthy futures, anyone?

According to a groundbreaking study written by 26 marine biologists, climate experts and economists and published in Nature, bottom trawling, a widespread practice in which heavy nets are dragged along the seabed, pumps out 1 gigaton of carbon every year.

Fishing boats that trawl the ocean floor release as much carbon dioxide as the entire aviation industry.
The carbon is released from the seabed sediment into the water, and can increase ocean acidification, as well as adversely affecting productivity and biodiversity. Marine sediments are the largest pool of carbon storage in the world.

Read more on this  >> 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Another batch of items went off to the auction house.
Fun fact: the more I uncover “stuff” – tools, tiles, railroad ties, other miscellany – the more stuff appears. A previously unsuspected trove of tools was revealed in a large, dust-strewn box in the controversial shed. I suspect that when my mother moved into this property, many items where never removed by the previous owner. Doing it now is a fulltime job.
Why is the shed controversial? Because realtors dispense contradictory advice about it.
One realtor is adamant that, because the shed is “not on plan,” the seller must tear it down. (In practical reality that means I must oversee the tearing down.)
Another realtor declares that, since the shed existed when my mother purchased the property, it can remain. Yet another realtor has yet to mention the shed at all, simply stating that her client’s offer is “as is” (aka “voetstoots”) – implying shed and all.

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My daughter is one step closer to traveling from San Francisco Bay Area to KZN. She’s vaccinated and we’re confirming quarantine rules for both countries. Research on my end found a lab one town over that will administer pre-flight Covid test for her return to California. (An expensive test: ZAR850 - approx. US$56.) I worry about the risk of travel under current conditions and I’m so looking forward to seeing her.

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Dilemma: with the part time gardener ill or out of commission for the past several months, garden maintenance has slipped. Moreover, I’m doing more and more of the maintenance myself even as I prep, move, and sell “stuff”. I cannot go on this way. Legally I could although ethically I cannot layoff the gardener because he’s sick. I paid him throughout strict lockdown, then through his initial and ongoing illness, but I cannot continue to pay him and a fill-in gardener. But someone must tend the large garden and help with assorted tasks too heavy for me.

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South African days getting shorter while nightfall happens earlier:
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 12: sunrise 5:56am; sunset 6:18pm.
March 18: sunrise 5:00am; sunset 6:11pm.