News blues
Delta variant in ascendance.As top health officials warn that COVID-19 has become a "pandemic of the unvaccinated," recent figures from states and cities throughout the United States reveal the extent to which the virus is impacting people who are not fully inoculated.Read more >>
A stark case in point: During June, every person who died of COVID-19 in Maryland was unvaccinated, according to a spokesperson for the governor's office. There were 130 people who died of COVID-19 in Maryland in June, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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On the violence and attempted coup in South Africa:Webinar: Daily Maverick on recent mayhem in South Africa, a live discussion ”The Age of Anarchy” with Marianne Thamm and guests. (57:00 mins)
President Ramaphosa addresses the nation on the violence.
Hmmm, Cyril Ramaphosa, not the “cleanest guy” now serving in government, but he’s calm as he faces enormous pressure from the even dirtier guys in government. I’ve supported his efforts as president. A giant welcome change from Zuma. Ramaphosa’s response to the insurrection and attempted coup? Underwhelming. Milquetoast.
Healthy planet, anyone?
It is impossible, these days, not to use plastic. Try as we might, we cannot avoid it. It’s everywhere. Here’s one way to begin to address that reality: Plastic polluters should face similar consequences and penalties as those responsible for oil spills...Lorren de Kock, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) SA project manager for the circular plastics economy, said plastic pollution had reached crisis levels and polluters should be held to account. She added that the pollution was not simply a consumer issue.Read more >>
“The reality is that plastic pollution is a complex societal issue requiring interventions at each stage of the life cycle. These include the critical need for a reduction in production and consumption, substitution with alternative materials and delivery models such as reuse and refill, more investment and support for recycling and appropriate disposal at end of life.”
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…
Another day of grueling heat on the river although not as bad as it has been.Life is peaceful on the river. One might even say, in comparison to recent months, verging on too peaceful. I rise early, walk along the river road for exercise and the views. After that, I enjoy coffee and birdsong as I review, first, the lineup of turtles on the floating logs and, second, my list of tasks for the day. Checking tasks as ‘done’ gives a sense of accomplishment. The task I’d most like to finish - finding someone to help me install the small outboard motors (one fuel, one battery) on the inflatable – is still outstanding. Yesterday, I was so assured that I’d accomplish that task, that I cleaned the small fuel tank and purchased fuel. Alas, the person I’d hoped to wrangle hasn’t appeared. Task still on “not done” side of the list.
One task no longer on the list has become, rather than a task, a morning ritual: circumnavigation the boat with feather duster in hand. Alas as much as I discourage spiders from continuing to spin webs on my boat, détente is the current status. To date, my ritual has not discouraged spiders. I feather dust them away, even toss some spiders into the river for fish, but others simply go on spinning. Perhaps a better strategy is printing hundreds of spider-size cards and placing each one into a web. The cards will suggest other places (other boats?) where spiders would meet a more friendly reception. The fine print could state that “this boat is dedicated to creating an (organic) spider-free environment. Nothing personal. Survival depends on relocation.”
One unexpected joy: barn swallow visits. The gorgeous birds sit on the bow fencing and sing. Occasionally, one flies through the hatch, circles the cabin, then departs. Perhaps the swallows nesting under the boat, between the pontoons, figure that if I can approach their nests as I work there, they can approach my nest. Works for me.
I need to figure out how to encourage barn swallows to include spiders in their daily menu.
Do I have too much time on my hands?
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KZN is coming out of the immediate stress from the recent looting campaign. Only one week after my mom’s death and, miracle of miracle, we appear to have recorded that event with Home Affairs. (Note, I write “appear” – not yet confirmed with actual record in actual hand, but….)
