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.