Vaccine on the horizon

(c) Rico

I was tempted to title today’s post, “Is he gone yet?”… and focus – again – on the Trumpster and his ongoing temper tantrums about the Losers who made him a Loser by losing an election.
In the US, this period is called “lame duck,” but as Naysan Rafati, of International Crisis Group, puts it, “This is less a lame-duck period and more of an adrenaline-infused mallard.” 
Indeed, Trump will do a lot of damage to the American cultural psyche and, likely, to domestic and international relations on his way out, but he IS on his way out. 

It's time for him to move on - and for me to change the subject, too. Goodbye, already! 

News blues…

Dr Fauci on Pfizer’s 90 percent effective Covid-19 vaccine: Yes, there are challenges ahead, including convincing the public to continue (start?) to implement ongoing public health aspects to protect oneself (wear masks, socially distance, sanitize) but the vaccine looks very promising….  (3:53 mins) 

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At the same time, “Don’t Get Too Excited About the Coronavirus Vaccine. It’s unmitigated good news. But it would be a tragic mistake to relax our vigilance right away.”  

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State hospitals in South Africa’s Nelson Mandela Bay ran out of intensive care beds on Monday 9 November as coronavirus infections in the Eastern Cape’s biggest metro edged closer to 5,000. The district manager for the Department of Health in the metro, Dalene de Vos, said there were 4,546 confirmed cases of coronavirus infections in the metro — an increase of 692 over the weekend. 

On the other hand, the U.S. has surpassed 1 million new confirmed coronavirus cases since the start of November - 100,000-plus cases a day for 10 days!

Healthy futures, anyone?

Could listening to the deep sea help save it? 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

I’m suffering pandemic fatigue. Yesterday was as bad as its been for me over these 230 days. I hit a wall. Constant rainfall – same today – added to my morose state. On such days, it is particularly important that I “change the channel” – focus on something nourishing. Instead of staring at my belly button and feeling hard-done-by, I edited my blog that shares my ceramic sculptures. Take a look…  And, yes, thank you, I do feel better. It’s still raining, but I’m more motivated and more centered. I guess it doesn't take much to get me going...

Stay or go?

Trump’s dilemma: should I stay or should I go? The Clash put it to music…  (3:00 mins)

News blues…

We, the People are exposed to mountains of media each day and, as the Trump election fiasco continues, it becomes increasingly difficult to discern what is based in fact or fantasy, in truth or lies, and satirical or serious news. For example, choose from the following headlines (answers below):

1. Trump Claims Over 70 Million Biden Votes Came From People Who Should Be Dead
2. Trump is devouring fast food — and aides are ‘lighting scented candles’ to cover up the stench
3. Donald Trump Jr. Refuses To Step Down From Post Of President’s Oldest Son
4. After Baseless Trump Claims, Barr Says DOJ Can Investigate Voter Fraud Allegations

Answers:

1. Satire, from The Onion 
2. Truth, from Rawstory 
3. Satire, from The Onion  
4. Truth, from Huffpost 

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Currently popular, the term “inflection point” refers to selecting one possible direction over another possible direction - and that both directions are inherently equally valid.
In fact, we face a choice between a culture based on “traditional” values – integrity, honor, respect for other people and points-of-view, respect for justice and the law, and a shared moral code – and a culture based on an any-deceit-that-works-at-the-moment, authoritarian-whim-based, emotion-driven culture.
The United States – and, therefore, the world – are at an inflection point, the consequences of which are grave.
It’s frighteningly unclear which direction we’ll choose.
Warning: unless Trump and Trump-supported cabinet members are charged with their crimes against the US Constitution and US law, the second choice will triumph, whether expressly chosen or not.
Sobering, no?

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The Lincoln Project looks on the bright side:

It took all of us.
Just 72 days remain in Donald Trump’s first, and only, term as president.
While Trump Republicans continue to kick, scream, and cry fraud without evidence, the real world is moving on and looking forward to the next administration, and the next chapter in America’s story.
World leaders were quick to congratulate President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris, as were the likes of President George W. Bush, Senator Mitt Romney, and a handful of other Republicans who aren’t willing to deface our free and fair elections for political points.
We, the People, have spoken.
A truly American coalition of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans delivered Joe Biden the largest victory in American history, with 75 million votes for the Biden-Harris ticket—and counting.
However, as we saw play out last week, the margins in several key states were narrow—meaning it took every single voter within this coalition to deliver this result.
This win belongs to all of us, including you.
Donald Trump is the first-ever president to be impeached, lose the popular vote twice, and lose re-election. A trifecta of failure fit for the most un-American president in our history.
Looking ahead, our work is far from over.
Over 71 million Americans voted to keep Trump in power, to continue on our path of destruction and chaos, and ultimately, for an illiberal takeover of our democracy.
Luckily, there are more of us than there are of them.
With several Trump enablers remaining in office, control of the Senate could be in the hands of Georgia. Senators Perdue and Loeffler must once again face voters for a runoff on January 5 in the ultimate test of their loyalty: America, or Trump?

Healthy futures, anyone?

Covid recovery plans threaten global climate hopes as countries pour money into fossil fuels to fight recession 

In at least 18 of the world’s biggest economies, more than six months on from the first wave of lockdowns in the early spring, pandemic rescue packages are dominated by spending that has a harmful environmental impact, such as bailouts for oil or new high-carbon infrastructure, outweighing the positive climate benefits of any green spending, according to the analysis. Only four countries – France, Spain, the UK and Germany – and the EU have packages that will produce a net environmental benefit.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Pandemic fatigue, coupled with California homesickness, has kicked in BIG TIME for me.
South Africa has a term for how I address these feelings: vasbyt
Vasbyt is advice from then-conscripted SADF recruits who served compulsory military service, from 9 months to 2 years.
The Afrikaans term means, literally, bite down; figuratively it means “keep a stiff upper lip,” or “grin and bear it.”
I’ll try….

“You’re Fired!"

© Illustration: Chris Riddell 

Photo essay: Americans celebrate the incoming 46th president  

News blues…

Brace yourself! Trump “is not going to accept defeat — he is psychologically incapable of that….” 

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While the current US president nurses his ego, Covid-19 blossoms.  
The current tally for confirmed infections around the world? Fifty million! And more than one and a quarter million dead. The United States still leads in numbers: 10 million confirmed infections and close to quarter million dead.
South Africa’s infections are resurging too.  
Isn’t it beyond time for a real, functional, implementable plan?
That plan must address “virus/ pandemic/ lockdown fatigue” – a term so amorphous that it’s difficult to address - other than, “suck it up - or run the real risk of dying a miserable death!”

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The Lincoln Project: Dawn  (0:55 mins)
Meidas Touch: Bye Don: Joe Biden Elected President of the United States (1:44 mins)

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Talking about lockdown fatigue… I, too, suffer this malady. Seldom at a loss for things to do, these pandemic-driven days, I – like many others - have more time than usual on my hands. The things I’d like to do – find and settle into a ceramic studio, join outdoor hiking and bird watching groups – all include other people. And other people include the potential of contracting Covid-19. With my mother living amid other elderly at-risk people, going on outings feel like an unaffordable luxury during a surging pandemic.
I, like the rest of the humans around the world, need a viable strategy to stimulate both mind and body and stay safe. Pandemic life is complicated.

(No)Conceding Sunday

While the world waits
and watches, Trump walls off himself
(and his ego) from reality.

News blues…

For this round, at least, the excruciating counting of ballots is over. Oh, there will be a recount, and lawsuits, and Trump trashing, but the election has been decided. Biden and Harris have been declared the winners. The United State has 74 more days before the Biden/Harris team begin its four years in the office of president.
Alas, Donald Trump has 74 more days to wreak havoc on the nation that doesn’t want him around anymore. Here’s a possible breakdown of phases:
Phase 1: Donald Trump lost the election.
Phase II: Donald Trump refuses to concede.
Phase III: Donald Trump behaves as usual: plays golf  while promising litigation, and sets “his” justice department to do his bidding and his lawyers to go to court
Phase IV:

As intemperate, foolhardy and reckless as many of Trump’s actions have been to date, critics warn that they all took place as Trump faced a referendum from voters. Now, that pending job review has passed… “ He will create as much chaos as humanly possible,” said Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and fixer who was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison for, in part, arranging illegal hush money payments to keep women from revealing affairs they had had with Trump just prior to the 2016 election.
“Donald Trump will take to the airwaves, to radio and print media whining about how the election was stolen from him due to fraud and foreign interference,” Cohen said. “He could never accept the fact that he lost because he is incompetent and arrogant.” 

Never a dull moment with the Trumpster….
Big question: “Can Trump be Indicted by SDNY Prosecutors During Lame Duck Period to Test OLC Memo?”  (13:00 mins)
My answer? Yes! Please!

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“It’s a good day for a whole lot of people” – Van Jones (2:08 mins)

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New York, New York…  (song parody - 1:30 mins) 

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The Lincoln Project declares its next steps:

Trump is no more. America can start anew.
Thank you!
This is your victory.
This is your moment.
History will remember every patriot who stood up, put country first, and defeated the most urgent threat to the security and stability of our Republic since the Civil War.
…Joe Biden … will become the 46th President of the United States.
Our work is not over though. Far from it. Until Trump concedes, the Electoral College votes, and Joe Biden is sworn in, we will not rest.
And as you know, this movement is not just about one man.
Until every Trump enabler is out of office and has paid a price for bringing our country to the precipice of catastrophe, we will not relent.
We are not done. But we’re sure glad to have you with us….
Our Republic, and democracy at large, were tested to the breaking point. Democracy prevailed.
Today, we celebrate. Tomorrow, we continue the fight for our Republic.

Healthy futures, anyone?

Healthy coral.
© Q.U.I 

Rocky road for coral… 

Half of the corals on Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef have died since the 1990s, according to a troubling new study that analyzed just how devastating years of catastrophic mass bleaching have been for one of the most biodiverse structures on Earth. 

A Noah’s ark-like plan to house hundreds of the world’s most at-risk coral species at a publicly accessible bank next to the Great Barrier Reef could prove an important part of long-term coral conservation, marine biologists say. 

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Green groups denounce Brazil's 'sham' Amazon tour for foreign diplomats.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Temperatures back into the lower and mid-30s (C)
I’m making more compost while I still have a concrete mixer to do the heavy work.

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We’ll host an open house for interested potential buyers this coming weekend. Got to prep for that. It’s been almost a month and NO nibbles at all. That must change.