Happy end of May

News blues

Can you reduce your risk of getting long Covid if you are infected? Yes, you can. Here’s how >> 

A new, massive 23andMe survey reveals who may be at the highest risk for long COVID >> 

***

The World Health Organization's governing board agreed to form a new committee to help speed up its response to health emergencies like COVID-19 >> 

***

On war

A bank of photos of the war in Ukraine >> 

***

The Lincoln Project: Stupid  (0:57 mins)

Healthy planet, anyone?

Conservation can work. Take the wild animals of Europe, for example. Despite the odds against them, they’re making a comeback >> 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Bus to work … work, work, work … bus back home. Walk, walk, walk… it’s cool and breezy out along the bay. Lovely!

Too subtle?

News blues

It’s getting increasingly difficult to find Covid news. The news that is published tends towards repetition, along the lines of numbers of infections up but no reliable data available: “The real COVID surge is (much) bigger than it looks. But don't panic” >>

Occasionally a lone voice, such as the UN’s environment chief warns that nature is sending “us” a message about the connection between the coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing climate crisis:

…humanity was placing too many pressures on the natural world with damaging consequences and warned that failing to take care of the planet meant not taking care of ourselves.
… the Covid-19 outbreak was a “clear warning shot”, given that far more deadly diseases existed in wildlife, and that today’s civilisation was “playing with fire”. They said it was almost always human behaviour that caused diseases to spill over into humans.
To prevent further outbreaks, the experts said, both global heating and the destruction of the natural world for farming, mining and housing have to end, as both drive wildlife into contact with people.

Read more >>

***

On war – and “the culture war”

Progressive pranksters Jason Selvig sarcastically thanks NRA president Wayne LaPierre for consistent offering of “thoughts and prayers” to victims and families – and all Americans. Selvig suggests even more thoughts and prayers will stop future massacres that Republican politicians refuse to legislate again. Look and listen >>  (2:18 mins) Perhaps too subtle?

Ukraine – photos from the war zone >> 

***

The Lincoln Project: Trump's Texas Speech in 90 Seconds  (1:30 mins)

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

I’ve lived in this island town for more than 20 years and never seen the beach as crowded as it was yesterday. (True, I don’t gather stats on crowd size, so it is possible that, behind my back, larger crowds have gathered….) Yesterday, a dozen parasailers readied equipment on the beach while dozens more sailed in the bay. Kite flyers were out in force, too, taking advantage of the breeze, as families and friends BBQ’ed and socialized along the beach and in the park.
Lovely to see people shucking off the scary experiences of the past 3 years and opting for social enjoyment.

***

Heading towards midsummer’s day in the SF Bay Area:
Sunrise: 5:49am
Sunset: 8:24pm

Heading towards midwinter in KZN, South Africa:
Sunrise: 6:45am
Sunset: 5:08pm

Keep the bribes comin’

News blues

For the third year, Americans are greeting the unofficial start of summer shadowed by the specter of the coronavirus amid rising covid-19 cases and hospitalizations across the country.
The United States is recording more than 100,000 infections a day — at least five times higher than this point last year — as it confronts the most transmissible versions of the virus yet.

Read more >> 

COVID-19 is not behind us. The virus has not been eradicated and we're seeing an uptick of cases across the United States. In addition, we recently reached a grim new milestone of over 1 million American deaths that have been related to the virus. With more people getting infected daily, a doctor who has been treating COVID patients throughout the pandemic shares the latest on COVID and places to avoid in an effort to help prevent catching the virus >> 

***

The Lincoln Project:
How do Republicans respond to a national tragedy? Run away  (0:20 mins)
Last week in the Republican Party - May 24, 2022 (2:14 mins)

Healthy planet, anyone?

Chestnut tiger butterflies take to the skies at Himeshima Island, Japan.
Photograph: Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images

 Butterflies. A reminder that life exists outside of the burden of grief… and the reality that, when it comes to guns in America, “nothing much will change”).
This planet – even its people - is worth working to change. Major problem?
These days, people do not know how to work together without trying to impose – insist upon - their point of view being “The Truth”. Too many points of view, too much self-promoting insistence and not enough selfless collaboration.

Other countries show gun restrictions can be enacted.

 
The reality is, 1) in the US, too many guns coupled with corrupt political ideology surrounding guns, and 2) corrupt politicians cannot stay in power unless they keep the bribes pouring into their re-election coffers.
For example,

Gun lobby money to members of US Congress

And, below, the US Senators taking the most money from the gun lobby National Rifle Association. In this case, all these senators are Republicans. Democrats take NRA money, too, they're just not as good at it as Republican senators. 

How much is handed to these senators?

Mitt Romney: $13.6 million
Richard Burr $6.8 million
Roy Blunt: $ 4.5 million
Thom Tillis: $4.4 million
Cory Gardner: $3.3 million

From these politicians’ point of view, as long as its “the little guys” being shot – literally, in the case of school children – why bother coming up with workable solutions to these ongoing massacres?
Massacres of the innocents means money coming in.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Perfect weather and four days free of the responsibilities inherent in the formal workplace. Bliss.
My ongoing obsession – driven by a need to avoid physical pain – is ensuring a daily dose of weight-bearing exercise.
At work, I use the stairs rather than the elevator/lift. (Going down 8 floors is easy; going up? Not so much. But I try.)
At home, I walk at least 2 miles each day. 

Yesterday’s revelation: walk, as usual, the mile to the grocery store, but instead of walking back home carrying two bags heavy with groceries, ride the bus.
Except for the half-hour wait for the bus, this plan worked well.
A new idea dawns: since I barely drive my vehicle, why own it? With gas/petrol at a record high – up to $6.50/gallon in my town – why bother owning a vehicle I hardly ever drive? 

After a lifetime of owning a vehicle, could I give it up? 

Hmmm. It’s worth thinking over.

***

The murder of crows continues squawking in the oak trees and park outside my home. 

The squirrels scurry along thee perfectly formed squirrel highway of branches.
Except for children shooting children in school classrooms and no political will to find workable solutions to stop it, all is “well-enough” in the park outside my home.
I’ll try to be satisfied with this, for now.

“Do something!”

News blues - on war!

With Republicans supporting the morally corrupt National Rifle Association and shutting down Congress, Michigan Senator McMorrow, shut out from speaking at her state’s capital, takes to Twitter to challenge all of us >> (5:05 mins)
And, an interview with Senator McMorrow >>  (10:20 mins)

Lawrence O’Donnell news anchor >> 
List of school shooters in the US, their ages and their killing locations

***

"How about we treat every young man who wants to buy a gun like every woman who wants to get an abortion - mandatory 48-hr waiting period, parental permission, a note from his doctor proving he understands what he's about to do, a video he has to watch about the effects of gun violence, and an ultrasound wand up the ass (just because). Let's close down all but one gun shop in every state and make him travel hundreds of miles, take time off work, and stay overnight in a strange town to get a gun. Make him walk through a gauntlet of people holding photos of loved ones who were shot to death, people who call him a murderer and beg him not to buy a gun.
(I do not know who wrote this, but vote this person into Congress! Hell, why stop there, put her on the Supreme Court!)

Broken hearted

Worldwide (Map) 

May 26, 2022 - 527,735,435 confirmed infections; 6,284,340 deaths
May 27, 2021 - 168,418,000 confirmed infections; 3,499,000 deaths

US (Map) 
May 26, 2022 - 83,817,220 confirmed infections; 1,004,110 deaths
May 27, 2021 - 33,190,300 confirmed infections; 592,000,000 deaths

SA (Coronavirus portal) 
May 26, 2022 - 3,941,050 confirmed infections; 101,045 deaths
May 27, 2021 – 1,645,600 confirmed infections; 56,100 deaths

Post from 28 May 2020: “Viruses respond to science, not politics” 

News blues

For nearly two years, as the Covid pandemic disrupted life around the globe, other infectious diseases were in retreat. Now the viral and bacterial nuisances are returning — and behaving in unexpected ways >> 

***

The Lincoln Project: Beto fights back  (1:00 mins) (What Beto said >>)

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Today, I’ve nothing to say. Too broken hearted. The shooting deaths of children by children – while politicians take money from the gun lobby – is just too much.

Jimmy Kimmel >>  (8:40 mins) (And the effort to shut down Jimmy >> )

We all know the old story from politicians by now: "thoughts and prayers" .

F**k 'em, I say. 

Heart, lungs, kidneys

News blues

Research reveals

Damage to the body’s organs including the lungs and kidneys is common in people who were admitted to hospital with Covid, with one in eight found to have heart inflammation,
Previous studies have revealed that fewer than a third of patients who have ongoing Covid symptoms after being hospitalised with the disease feel fully recovered a year later, while some experts have warned long Covid could result in a generation affected by disability.
Now researchers tracking the progress of patients who were treated in hospital for Covid say they have found evidence the disease can take a toll on a range of organs.

Read more >> 

***

On war…

Dmytro Kozatsky, Azov Regiment fighter and photographer, documented the siege of Ukraine’s Azovstal metalworks. Before his capture he posted his pictures on social media, asking that they be shared as widely as possible. This is some of his work showing the realities of life during the battle >> 

***

The Lincoln Project: Mean Girl  (0:57 mins)

Healthy planet, anyone?

Consultant to Shell Oils says Shell "blatantly doesn’t care" about climate change >> 

***

The entity named Dear South Africa  solicits comments from South Africans regarding assorted bills under consideration. I track Dear South Africa; I even comment on it at times. This time it is soliciting comments on a climate change bill to "respond to a long-term, just transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy and society for South Africa in the context of sustainable development,  and to provide for matters connected therewith." More information on the bill.

Here are a handful of comments from South Africans - copied exactly, no edits, not even corrections of spelling - from the public comment section :

 
Comment: What will happen to members working in coal's mine. SA must not allow foreign policy to dictate terms for us in the mean time their stock piling coal from SA. Wake up SA before is too late.
Climate change is a natural cycle in earth, don't let the western world pass on their carbon emissions use onto us thats their problem not ours we don't have a carbons emissions problem our industry and vehicle count per capita is way much lower than any other country in Europe Asia and America, don’t get dragged into this debate.

 
Comment: Climate change is a load of crap. It’s just another way for this thieving ANC government to get their hands on more hard earned cash from the people of SA.

Comment: This is a vast subject to try put in ashort paragraph. However let's start at home. Municipal dumps.: There are no longer orange bags delivered which results in no separation of plastics from homes. This results in tons of plastics not going for recycling. Municipal dumps could be running waste bio mass recycling plants. Producing by products such as Bio Diesel lpg gas , Bio Char from garden cuttings, and powering the energy grid with co2 emmission free power which is produced by the turbines that generate power from the lpg gas produced by the waste to fuel plant. So simple . Go look what Denmark is doing. Our Sewage plants are outdated, we could cut their footprint dramatically and get methane free LPG from them that also produces power for the power grid, thousands of free Mega Watts , organic fertilizer, and clean water. Once again we sovfar behind. Just these two points alone produces thousands of jobs , earn money for the government and produces low cost bio diesel from plastic and rubber by utilizing pyrolysis plants. Low cost co2 free lpg , with energy free power reducing our energy costs and cutting co2 emissions by 100%. We need to wake up and invest in what works . Not solar panel farms that are going to cause huge headaches to recycle lead acid or Lithium iron batteries when the have reached the end of their life cycle. We could be producing bio plastics that is fully degradable in days of dumping produced from sugar beet, we could be planting sugar beet and harvest crops four times a year through proper crop rotation and revitalising our polluted farms from harmful pesticides and chemical fertilizers. The information is all out there but no one wants to see it.

 
Comment: It is so sad, but any new proposition made by the government (whether good or bad) I am immediately sceptical about. I TOTALLY support us taking responsibility for climate change and we MUST address it - but HOW will it be implemented? Will all coal-sourced energy be closed? Where will these people get work? Will it be the small percentage of taxpayers who again have to foot the bill and the others can do whatever they want? RESPONSIBLE government with well-informed wise decision making with integrity is what we need. Please!

 
Comment: Taxing the people to change the climate is absurd...

Comment: I do not believe that it it has been well-thought through and can not support the current government to implement this important action : will the funds allocated be used correctly or will it be spent in a corrupt way . Most importantly how will the system be policed when out of line findings happen.

Comment: 
corruption !!!!!!!!! .
Corruption !!!!!!!!!!! .
CORRUPTION !!!!!!!!!!!! .
CORRUPTIONNNNNN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .

Comment: Over the years we have seen very little effect from this mythical monster. But, if you want to put the blame on something, then the animal farming industry is the largest culprit - larger than fossil fuel burning. Stop people eating (so much) meat and you will have a far cleaner environment. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/22/eu-farm-animals-produce-more-emissions-than-cars-and-vans-combined-greenpeace.

From these comments, I learn that everyone is an expert and that We, the People have not a hope in hell of getting ourselves, our families,  and our friends out of the death spiral we are in. Depressing, ain't it?

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Perfect climate here on the bay… The south and east parts of the US are beginning to sizzle, but SF Bay Area is perfect, hovering around mid-70s F (mid-20s C)…that is similar to the temps in KZN these days:
SF Bay Area:
Sunrise: 5:52am
Sunset: 8:18pm

KZN, South Africa:
Sunrise: 6:41am
Sunset: 5:10pm

Time "to do" more?

Healthy planet, anyone?

Recently, NASA data scientist Peter Kalmus, chained himself to the entrance doors of the JP Morgan Chase building in Los Angeles and explains why inaction on the climate crisis pushed him to chain himself to an LA bank – and why trusting in the ‘people in charge’ is so dangerous.
Kalmus explained,

[I have] this mounting feeling that I need to do more. I have a sense of desperation, because of the wide gulf between what the science says society needs to do and how it feels like everything is heading in the opposite direction. World leaders and people not understanding that we’re in an emergency.
Then the question comes to me, if I’m sitting with the science every day, and I want to protect my kids and young people and non-humans, what do I do? I’ve been on this 16-year journey trying to answer that question, and civil disobedience seemed like something good to try. I’m ashamed to say that it took me this long.

Read more >> 

I, too, have "this mounting feeling that I need to do more". Alas, my imagination doesn't extend to what I can do that's actually effective. I make small efforts: recycle, try to avoid using plastics (totally impractical in today’s world), reuse disposable masks, avoid shopping for extraneous “stuff”, live lightly, and educate myself on many dismal issues – poisoned oceans, rivers, air, space, and, yes, the nature of “people”.
There once was a time I’d join assorted groups protesting assorted issues (predominantly working with anti-war and peace groups). I quickly learned these groups of people are as confused, back-biting, mono-focused, and, yes, ultimately as self-destructively boring as most other groups of people.
It’s depressing to grasp that “people” are the problem, that “people” are ultimately “navel gazers” incapable of stepping out of entrenched patterns of thinking. Me included. I try to get on board with others’ thinking, but quickly revert to gazing at my own navel when I recognize the circular nature of “our” thinking and our views.
I’ll go out on a limb and say: beyond thinking and writing about the "issues", NO ONE knows how to face, never mind constructively and collectively address, the dire situations facing our planet. 

Yes, we “see” countries struggling with climate-related catastrophe, yes, we see unilateral military invasions of sovereign nations, yes, we see fossil fuel companies making billions of profit dollars as their CEOs push clearly destructive policies and actions and block generative policies, and, yes, we vote for politicians financially supported by fossil fuel companies to go along with such policies.
But what to do that's effective?
What did Peter Kalmus do after he chained himself to the entrance doors of the JP Morgan Chase’s building?
He packed up and went home.
Oh, sure, news outlets followed him home. Oh, sure, he’ll found a non-profit company to “feel” he’s contributing.
Then what?
Perhaps Peter Kalmus will be The One to break through the “noise” and “save the planet.”
I hope so.
But I doubt it.
And there’s the rub.

Meanwhile, 
SF Bay Area:
Sunrise: 5:53am
Sunset: 8:17pm

KZN, South Africa:
Sunrise: 6:40am
Sunset: 5:10pm