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| © National Geographic. |
Mother and daughter came up with a way to hug each other for the first time in two months. They hung a clothesline and pinned a drop cloth to it in the yard in Wantagh, New York. Then they embraced through the plastic.
“In spite of everything that we’re facing, we still look for ways to connect….”
Given the reluctance humans show, each day, for adhering to safety measures and preventing the rapid spread of Covid, I wonder why the health minister equivocates? A surging pandemic with a new, potentially more transmissible variant, is not the time to allow humans wiggle room, Minister Mkhize. Clamp down!
Hawaii: Kilauea Eruption Day Four - Rising Lava Lake Update (Dec. 24, 2020) (3:50 mins)
Italy: Eruption of Mount Etna – in Italian, no subtitles but spectacular views. (Dec 23, 2020) (2:30 mins)
Japan: Sakurajima Eruption Accompanied by Lightnings (Dec 22, 2020) (3:10 mins)
We human display an unerring knack for getting it wrong. Even as we prefer to pretend the opposite, we know the disaster our passion for coal and oil has foisted on our small planet. Yet, here we are, chasing another disastrous passion. This time, lithium:
Alas, of the residents remaining in the Center (many left to spend the day with family) all took tea and mince pie in their rooms. No re-introduction was possible.
Perhaps just as well. My mother fell asleep before tea. She slept until after lunch. I took The Dog for a walk, waited, then departed. I returned to visit and conduct another dog walk later that afternoon.
“In spite of everything that we’re facing, we still look for ways to connect….”
News blues…
South Africa’s health minister criticises the travel bans, saying there is 'no evidence' new SA variant is more dangerous.Given the reluctance humans show, each day, for adhering to safety measures and preventing the rapid spread of Covid, I wonder why the health minister equivocates? A surging pandemic with a new, potentially more transmissible variant, is not the time to allow humans wiggle room, Minister Mkhize. Clamp down!
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Are concerns regarding South Africa’s new coronavirus variant justified? Healthy planet, anyone?
Sensational! Volcanos for the holidays.Hawaii: Kilauea Eruption Day Four - Rising Lava Lake Update (Dec. 24, 2020) (3:50 mins)
Italy: Eruption of Mount Etna – in Italian, no subtitles but spectacular views. (Dec 23, 2020) (2:30 mins)
Japan: Sakurajima Eruption Accompanied by Lightnings (Dec 22, 2020) (3:10 mins)
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Lithium the new coal? We human display an unerring knack for getting it wrong. Even as we prefer to pretend the opposite, we know the disaster our passion for coal and oil has foisted on our small planet. Yet, here we are, chasing another disastrous passion. This time, lithium:
Lithium is a key active material in the rechargeable batteries that run electric cars. It is found in rock and clay deposits as a solid mineral, as well as dissolved in brine. It is popular with battery manufacturers because, as the least dense metal, it stores a lot of energy for its weight.Read “The curse of ‘white oil’: electric vehicles dirty secret >>
Electrifying transport has become a top priority in the move to a lower-carbon future. In Europe, car travel accounts for around 12% of all the continent’s carbon emissions. To keep in line with the Paris agreement, emissions from cars and vans will need to drop by more than a third (37.5%) by 2030. The EU has set an ambitious goal of reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by the same date. To that end, Brussels and individual member states are pouring millions of euros into incentivising car owners to switch to electric. Some countries are going even further, proposing to ban sales of diesel and petrol vehicles in the near future (as early as 2025 in the case of Norway). If all goes to plan, European electric vehicle ownership could jump from around 2m today to 40m by 2030.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…
My plan for re-introducing my reclusive mother to her fellow Care Center residents flopped. I’d purchased enough mince pies – a raisin, sultana fruit tartlet – for all of A Wing’s residents’ morning tea. I’d expected folks to gather, as usual, in the lounge. I planned to offer the treats and suggest folks drop in and visit my mother who is struggling to adjust to her new environment.Alas, of the residents remaining in the Center (many left to spend the day with family) all took tea and mince pie in their rooms. No re-introduction was possible.
Perhaps just as well. My mother fell asleep before tea. She slept until after lunch. I took The Dog for a walk, waited, then departed. I returned to visit and conduct another dog walk later that afternoon.
