... Cruise ships that were not allowed to dock at the time.

Yes, docking rights denied, no entry, drop your anchor in international waters.

Makes one wonder why Trump didn't declare all waters international waters. as that would've made his early "number go down".

Early on, didn't Trump try to block some cruise ships from docking in the USA so as to make his COVID numbers look 'better'?...


Stay safe folks!
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

Meanwhile around the world:


Covid-19: India excess deaths cross four million...
wrote:

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused excess deaths in India to cross more than four million, a new study has found...

Although it is difficult to say how many of these deaths have been caused by Covid-19, they are a measure of the overall impact of the pandemic.

India has officially recorded more than 414,000 Covid-19 deaths so far. The country is one of the few major economies without an estimate of excess deaths during the pandemic.

Researchers from the US-based Center for Global Development used three different data sources to estimate India's excess all-cause mortality during the pandemic until 21 June. They extrapolated death registrations from seven states...

... Taken together, the researchers found that excess deaths were estimated to be in the range of 3.4 million to 4.7 million - about 10 times higher than India's official Covid-19 death toll...

Apple delays return to office as Covid cases rise
wrote:

Apple is delaying the return of staff to its offices, as global Covid cases rise, Bloomberg reports.

The iPhone-maker had intended to bring workers in for three days a week from September but this had now been put back until at least October...

The office space example is rather telling: Only 1/3rd the usual number of workers can be accommodated healthily in the office space compared to (crammed smelly) business as usual?...



The reality of consequences hits home?...

Stay safe folks!
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

Looks like there are different rules when crossing the border between England and Scotland
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-scotland-57896887 @13:01

Find this report hard to believe. However, if true...

"Hardly anyone under 60 goes into hospital... and of those virtually all survive. And I no longer buy all this NHS overwhelmed stuff. Folks I think we may need to recalibrate... There are max 3m in this country aged over 80."
He reportedly went on to write: "It shows we don't go for nationwide lockdown."

Unfortunately, that mindset is far too believable and would confirm my personal suspicions for why the COVID response has been with the apparent strategies that we have seen...

Deadly incredible, but in my opinion and observations, very likely all too expensively deadly true.

With an added dose of Ivory Towers and extra generous helpings of Eton Mess...


Stay safe folks!
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

The one major disturbing issue I've found during the last 17 months of this fiasco, is the unrelenting "herd stupidity" in labelling people that highlight genuine concerns.
Confrontational
Controversial
Anarchists
Conspiracy theorists...
and worst of all
...anti-vaxxers.

"Herd stupidity" at work

In addition, from 7 August in Wales double vaccinated adults will no longer have to self-isolate if a close contact tests positive for Covid.
And from 16 August fully vaccinated adults and under-18s in England also won't have to self-isolate if a close contact tests positive for Covid.
Scotland plans to introduce similar rules for adults, and is considering whether it can do the same for under-18s.

The vaccination DOES NOT guarantee immunity.

A further 1,604 people have tested positive for Covid – which is 9.2% of the tests carried out yesterday.
There have also been 13 more deaths recorded in the past 24 hours of people who tested positive in the previous 28 days.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says although case numbers remain high they are "on a downward path" and have declined by more than a third in the last fortnight.
A total of 3,984,433 people in Scotland have received their first dose of the vaccine - 90% of the adult population.
The total number fully vaccinated is now 2,995,086.
Uptake rates are lower for 30 to 39-year-olds (81%) and 18 to 29-year-olds (70%).
Ms Sturgeon says the decision not to vaccinate the majority of children will be kept under “close and ongoing review”.
No decision has been taken on the requirement for mandatory vaccine passports in Scotland.
Asked about allegations made by the prime minister's former chief adviser, the first minister says leaders should not be "glib or complacent about human life".
Train operators have been told they are expected to follow Scottish Covid laws and guidance when operating north of the border.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross says he is "sceptical" about calls for vaccine passports and criticises the decision to close the NHS Louisa Jordan vaccination hub in Glasgow.
Labour's Daniel Johnson says the Scottish government must spell out what the new normal will look like and says "serious questions" have to be asked about the pace of vaccinations among younger people.

Can't answer for the Rest of the World, but I can remember having the smallpox vaccination as well as others as a child.
Progress sure is a bitch.

The vaccination DOES NOT guarantee immunity.

Indeed so. Which is why even when vaccinated, the wise will still stay cautious.

However, being vaccinated does mean that your immune system has a very good head start to ward off COVID and to greatly help avoid the consequences of needing hospital treatment.

For myself for the home-sprint analogy, I'd much rather enjoy the 90m head start to give a good chance to win the 100m race rather than suffer being un-vaccinated and be still tying up my shoe laces at 0m when the starter's gun goes off...


And you never know... With enough people vaccinated against COVID, we may well clear out the pandemic without killing too many more people...

Stay safe folks!
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

For myself for the home-sprint analogy, I'd much rather enjoy the 90m head start to give a good chance to win the 100m race rather than suffer being un-vaccinated and be still tying up my shoe laces at 0m when the starter's gun goes off..

The more you quote the underlined, the more you confirm that my sense of history HAS NOT gone astray.

"I am not a scientist or a doctor, but I am deeply concerned by the discriminatory nature for those who either can't have the vaccine for medical reasons or age.

So concentration camps for the unvaccinated?

... rather than suffer being un-vaccinated and be still tying up my shoe laces at 0m when the starter's gun goes off..

... confirm that my sense of history HAS NOT gone astray.

"I am not a scientist or a doctor, but I am deeply concerned by the discriminatory nature for those who either can't have the vaccine for medical reasons or age.

So concentration camps for the unvaccinated?

Wow! That's an extreme dystopian extreme!! Is that a soundbite for the fearful?


As far as I'm aware, there are very very few people that medically cannot accept at least one of the many vaccines that we now have against COVID.

More to the point, those same people will unfortunately be even more vulnerable to the blizzard of effects that the COVID out-in-the-wild inflicts...


Which then comes to those that are fearful of the vaccines or otherwise refuse to be vaccinated...

Hopefully, enough of those last few people can be convinced that the wild mess that is COVID is indeed safely immunized against with what we now have as the largest most widespread vaccination program ever undertaken!


Until we clear the pandemic, we have some very good sense to maintain some precautions and restrictions...

Note that says NOTHING about anything like concentration camps or leper colonies or whatever such silliness... Also note the good healthy debate that is ongoing about the use of 'vaccine passports' for allowing people to sidestep some precautions.


Stay safe folks!
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

Wow! That's an extreme dystopian extreme!! Is that a soundbite for the fearful?

Says enough, in my personal & uneducated opinion that is.

What a great idea that was to reduce the restrictions, try telling that to the doctors and nurses and see what response you get.
Royal Blackburn Hospital: Too many coronavirus patients to cope with, say staff

Which then comes to those that are fearful of the vaccines or otherwise refuse to be vaccinated...

There are More TV Commercials 'Bout Pharmaceuticals than any other Product.

More than half of Commercial is 'bout ADVERSE Effects of 'Drug' - an EXTREMELY Long List which Includes DEATH.

Makes me ILL when VAXXing is PUSHED as SAFE and EFFECTIVE.

Being EMERGENCY USE, dA 'LIST' of ADVERSE Effects is EXTRA LONG and Includes DEATH.

So 'STAY SAFE' any Way you Choose.

NO ONE is going to CHOOSE for ME.

Yep

---

May we All have a METAMORPHOSIS. REASON. GOoD JUDGEMENT and LOVE and ORDER!!!!!

Which then comes to those that are fearful of the vaccines or otherwise refuse to be vaccinated...

There are More TV Commercials 'Bout Pharmaceuticals than any other Product. More than half of Commercial is 'bout ADVERSE Effects of 'Drug' - an EXTREMELY Long List which Includes DEATH...

And there is a big disproportionate problem there.

I guess there are no TV adverts for when things are good and go right?


We have now many millions of examples of where the vaccines work well for people and avoid illness and save lives. In sad contrast, we also have the far too many examples of COVID-in-the-wild causing very bad illness with long term "ADVERSE Effects" including all too many deaths...

We now have many years of experience with vaccines and with fantastic success that have transformed our society for the better. Why throw that away?


Stay safe folks!
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

I guess there are no TV adverts for when things are good and go right?

Pharma Drug Commercials are ALL ABOUT 'Things' Goin' 'GOoD and Right'. Attractive' Happy Healthy 'Looking' Young to Old People Livin'; Lovin'; and Having a Great Time. When da Voice Over Goes into Negatives of Drug, People switch Channel or
Their Ears and Mind Disengage 'cause while NEGATIVEs are Expoused the Commercial Continues to 'Picture' da Happy Life due to dA 'WONDERFUL Effects' of their DRUG

Minds Love to continue with a Pleasent 'Outcome' and 'They' Know It. While in Reality, Families are Living with the Injuries; sickness; and Deaths of their DRUG.

We now have many years of experience with vaccines and with fantastic success that have transformed our society for the better

Like I've said in Another Post some time ago. I have Two World Health Organisation YELLOW Booklets FILLED with SHOTs and VACCINEs from My Early Life which Includes SHOTs and VACCINEs for School Attendence and Travelling to Foreign Countries and Armed Forces shot requirements. I was Lucky, although Three Days with a SORE BUTT from a Gamma Globulin shot is NO FUN. Others, having 'Adverse Effects' including DEATH didn't make News and Definately Would Not Today. Hopefully FOX; OANN; Breitbart; and NEWSMAX would Broadcast.

Yeah, Happy Talk and Attitudes Don't CONvince Me and Many Others; Experienced as I Am with Getting JABBED or Not.

CHOOSE for Yourselves. DON'T ALLOW OTHERs to CHOOSE for You.

UNFORTUNATELY LOSS of Job and Other Important 'Things' if One does Not Comply is a NEGATIVE. Most People will take da JAB and Hope fO dA Best. Others are.......and some Others are with da Worms; Beatles, et al.

Yep

---

May we All have a METAMORPHOSIS. REASON. GOoD JUDGEMENT and LOVE and ORDER!!!!!

So in the last few days we have had;
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) saying “These shots need to get in everybody’s arm as rapidly as possible, or we’re going to be back in a situation in the fall that we don’t yearn for, that we went through last year,” McConnell said during his weekly news conference. “I want to encourage everybody to do that and to ignore all of these other voices that are giving demonstrably bad advice.”

And Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the No. 2 Republican in House leadership in an interview Tuesday, Scalise said “there shouldn’t be any hesitancy over whether or not it’s safe and effective.” He said he was compelled to get the shot in light of the recent spread of the delta variant and the associated spike in cases — and that politics was not a consideration.

And probably more importantly, “I can’t say it enough. Enough people have died. We don’t need any more death,” Sean Hannity, who previously called the virus a hoax, said Monday on his broadcast. “And it absolutely makes sense for many Americans to get vaccinated. I believe in science. I believe in the science of vaccination.”

Is it time for the anti-vaxers to change their minds.

Sorry Broheim - I don't have Viewers or Voter buttisimos to Smooch.

Pandering to Paycheck and Avoiding Lawsuits.

And Àlmost Instant Health Care.

Taking a Jab and feeling Safe and Virtuous.

GOoD fo Them.

I Live in a Different Reality.

Some Say Alternate Baby!!!!!

Yep Baby!!!!!

---

May we All have a METAMORPHOSIS. REASON. GOoD JUDGEMENT and LOVE and ORDER!!!!!

Is it time for the anti-vaxers to change their minds.

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/563837-unvaccinated-say-vaccines-more-dangerous-than-covid-19-poll

Unvaccinated individuals believe the coronavirus vaccine is more dangerous than the virus, according to a poll conducted by Yahoo News and YouGov.

The poll found 37 percent of unvaccinated individuals believe the vaccines pose greater health risks than the virus while 29 percent acknowledge the coronavirus is a greater health risk than the vaccines, which studies have shown are effective in reducing cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

Thirty-four percent of individuals were unsure which poses a greater threat to their health.

The study highlights how misinformation about the vaccines are deeply ingrained with many Americans. Vaccine doubts have slowed vaccination rates in the United States to a crawl, and have been a major factor as the delta variant sweeps through the country, leading to a rise in cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

Federal health officials have spoken of a pandemic of the unvaccinated, a worrisome development that could lead to many more deaths in the nation from the coronavirus. More than 600,000 people in the United States have already died from COVID-19.

The poll found 37 percent are not getting the vaccine due to concerns about long-term side effects, 17 percent don’t trust the government, 16 percent believe the vaccine is too new, 11 percent cite that it is not fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration and 6 percent are against any sort of vaccine.

The poll also showed that many unvaccinated people do not see the delta variant as a significant threat. Thirty percent of unvaccinated individuals said the Delta variant wasn’t a serious threat to anyone, while 33 percent of unvaccinated individuals said the Delta variant was a serious threat to all people. Seventeen percent said it was a threat to unvaccinated individuals.

The total number of people polled was?

Well the last reporting period saw the world's case tally pass 192.2 million while deaths pass 4,133,300. :-(

Anyhow changes in the death list were Tunisia passing Bolivia and the Netherlands to move into 32nd place after Iraq passed the Netherlands, but they still remain in 31st because Bangladesh leapt over both of them as well as Bulgaria to take control of 29th, the Philippines passed Canada, but they also remain in 25th spot as a correction happened with Ecuador numbers that took them from 28th place all the way up to 22nd and Indonesia removed Poland from 15th spot.

Changes to the case list have been the Isle of Man taking offence at being passed by the British Virgin Islands as they tacked windward taking the wind out of the British Virgin Islands sails and then raced right on by another 9 countries into 184th and preparing to demote New Zealand next. The Channel Islands sailed past Gambia, Iceland, Yemen and the C.A.R. to claim 164th while Nicaragua slipped into 161st past Equatorial Guinea as Martinique also decided to take a long distance flight over 9 other countries to make a refueling stop in 143rd and the Seychelles passed P.N.G., but they also remain 141st as Fiji took flight over Taiwan, both of them, Guadeloupe and French Polynesia to make a quick stopover in 138th spot.

Malawi pushed past Madagascar into 119th place, Senegal jumped over the Ivory Coast and Jamaica, but they only made it into 115th because Vietnam took a flight over the D.R.C., all 3 of them as well as Rwanda to make a stopover in 113th while Zimbabwe jumped over both Cameroon and El Salvador to take over 106th, Botswana nudged Uganda from 105th as Cyprus hopped over Uganda as well as China to claim 102nd, Finland became the 99th member of the 100K+ club, but unlike the latest members of the club they didn't immediately pass Montenegro and only completed that maneuver after Mozambique leapt over them to touchdown in 98th place.

Libya passed Qatar into 80th spot after Myanmar jumped over Qatar along with Armenia to move into 78th, Honduras passed Lithuania while Sri Lanka and Ireland both slid past Egypt, but they all remain in their same places as Cuba took flight over all of them plus 3 others to make a stopover in 66th as Costa Rica cruised past Slovakia, but they also remain in the same position because Thailand also took another flight over both of them plus 4 others to take a refueling stop in 52nd, Greece shoved Bolivia out of 48th and Tunisia replaces Lebanon in 43rd.

Malaysia became the 32nd country to enter the 900K+ clubhouse and then plucked Portugal out of 31st, Bangladesh jumped over Sweden and Belgium to move into 26th as Poland got basted from 14th by Indonesia while Russia became the 4th member of the 6M+ club with over 7 months of cobwebs and dust to get cleared out of the clubhouse in front of them and the U.S. had the surprise opening of their brand new 35M+ clubhouse yesterday (I say surprise because states and counties are getting very slack on reporting their numbers these days).

Meanwhile here down under the limo driver outbreak (becoming more commonly now know as "Gladys' Screw Up") has reached 1528 and claimed 5 lives while still leaking out of the greater Sydney boundary, but what is amazing us is that no matter how many cases we log up each day that cheeky little Malta keeps on out pacing us. :-O

Anyway that it's for this update, take care.