The Corona Diaries – Day 376

Posted on by Opher

What a weird day. The final day of 2021. Another strange year. It was 16 degrees in Yorkshire!! It’s been colder in Summer!

A year of right-wing populism caused mayhem with its division and nastiness. All that’s in their heads is how to make money at any cost. They undermine experts, ridicule scientists, disparage the news. They spread conspiracy and sow lies. Everything is fake news except their own version of the truth. They seek to stir up hate so that they can divide and rule.

So Covid is a conspiracy.

Global Warming is a contrick.

Vaccines are poison.

The tragic loss of Biodiversity is a nonsense.

Guns are good.

All immigrants are thieving rapists.

Muslims are terrorists.

We have Bolsonaro burning down the Amazon for profit.

Trump opening up national parks for mining, building walls, fracking and supporting oil and coal – for profit.

Johnson getting Brexit done – for profit.

Modi stirring up Hindu extremism – for profit.

Erdogan stirring up Muslim extremism and opposing Kurds – for profit.

Oban stoking hatred against immigrants – for profit.

How much have these Tories and their cronies made out of Covid and Brexit?? Billions!!

Everything is about power and wealth!!

Meanwhile, the pollution is building up, creatures are becoming extinct, the world is heating up, inequality grows, austerity looms and these populist leaders ride off into the sunset with saddlebags loaded with loot.

But, maybe in 2022, the tide will turn and people begin to realise that they’ve been taken for a ride. The division and hatred have created a far worse situation. Brexit is bollocks. The wall was bollocks. Global warming and mass extinctions are real. That these politicians all lied. That Trump, Johnson, Bolsonaro, Modi, Oban and Erdogan were evil lying rogues robbing us blind.

Perhaps we’ll turn away from division, hate, walls and isolation and start to think globally or unity, compassion and concern for nature??

I bloody hope so!!

So here’s to hope, love, peace and compassion!! Here’s to a better world!!

Perhaps we can start to elect people who aren’t self-serving psychopaths, sociopaths and narcissists??? Who knows??

Meanwhile, out in Coronaland, our hapless clown is completely hamstrung, dithering about as usual. While Ireland, Wales, Scotland and the rest of Europe all take action as the virus is spiralling out of control, we carry on like headless dodos, pretending that everything is fine!!

The problem is that Johnson is gambling again. He knows his future is in severe jeopardy. His poll ratings are through the floor. Everybody knows he is an incompetent liar. His backbenchers, who saw him as a popular election winner, now see him as a liability. People now see him for the twerp he is. Brexit is a disaster. Covid is a disaster. The self-serving sleaze is now apparent. His bubble has burst. He thinks that by giving us all Christmas and New Year he is doing us a favour and will be popular. He won’t. It was just a bit of stupid populist thinking. We will pay for it big time!! He knows that the rabid loonies of the ERG backbenchers won’t support him. They don’t care about bodies building up. All they care about is making money. Brexit and Covid have been a bonanza for them. Some of them have made millions. They want the economy open at all costs!

Johnson is so weak he’ can do nothing!

So, yesterday it is quite apparent that Covid is well out of control. There were 189,846 new cases with 332 deaths. The hospitals are seeing significant increases with admissions up 66% on last week. With the lag after mixing at Christmas, and the lag after mixing at New Year, the lag between getting the virus, getting ill, needing hospitalisation and then subsequent death, I think we can see a major crisis looming!!

Good old Dithery Boris!! How many has he killed now?? Where’s the leadership?? Why aren’t we being told to follow some basic guidelines on ventilation, distancing and masks??

He’s put all his eggs in the vaccine basket. It worked well for him earlier; I don’t think it’s going to work a second time!!

2022 might just see the end of Boris, Bolsonaro and hopefully some other populist liars!!

Stay Safe!! 2022 gleams with a brighter light!!

Today’s Music to Keep me SssSSssSAaaaANnnnnNEEeE in Isolation – James Varda – The River and the Stars

Posted on by Opher

One of my favourites.

The Corona Diaries – Day 375

Posted on by Opher

It’s very mild here for the end of December but it’s been drizzling all day. I stayed in and started editing my Captain Beefheart book again. That requires concentration and application. It’s going to take me a while.

While I’m doing that I’m going to be thinking about my next Sci-fi novel. It’s the sequel to ‘The Pornography Wars’. I have most of my characters and I have the situation that they now find themselves in. All that’s required is a good plot and I can begin working them through to a suitable conclusion. I do enjoy writing creatively, solving problems, creating characters and scenarios, looking at philosophies and combining that with relevance to present-day social situations. It’s fun.

My study is almost back in shape. My music collection has been rearranged, posters up. I need to sell a bit of furniture that’s clogging up the place and then move my work area. Everything will be so much better.

Tomorrow’s New Year’s Eve. I have no plans. The virus is currently going mad.

Meanwhile, out in Coronaland, our resident clown runs on hunches and hopes, having completely abandoned science. His hunch is that keeping everything ‘normal’ through New Year will make him popular (some hope – everybody now thinks he’s a cretin). His hope is that the virus doesn’t go mad and create a disaster for the NHS. He hopes the Omicron isn’t going to put people in the ICUs.

Perhaps he should have listened to the scientists?? His hunches haven’t proved very good. As probably the worst Prime Minister we’ve ever had, I don’t think he is ever going to achieve popularity again. People have had enough of his lies; they’ve seen through his fake optimism and found his promises empty, while he, and his cronies, have been busy profiteering, knee-deep in sleaze.

It’s the end for the shabby plump rich kid.

The scientists have been asking for more stringent measures. Johnson’s hopes that the virus won’t spread and that the ICUs won’t fill to overflowing; that the staff won’t all be off sick and the death-rate start to climb, are all looking shipwrecked. I’m getting an attack of Deja Vu. Haven’t we been here before a number of times?

Let me see – lockdown early and hard to avoid nastiness. Errr – why are we always too late and too soft???

Surely there were simple measures that could have been brought in that would have prevented us reaching another crisis??

Johnson’s not a man for detail or rational thought, is he? The ERG lunatics running the Tory Party are as bad as the Trumpists – extremist nutters!!

So yesterday, there were either 221,000 (government site) or 183,037 (BBC and Sky) new cases with 68 more deaths. The numbers in hospital were going up with 1213 being the new figure. There were 437 admitted yesterday – the highest number since last February.

So Johnson’s hopes flounder. Wrong again!! How many deaths will that make??

The virus is getting out of control. The NHS is preparing Nightingale centres again. There will be more ventilators and deaths.

However, our mighty chump at last made a pronouncement. He said ‘Go out and enjoy New Year!’ He forgot to add ‘And die!!’

He urged people to go and do a lateral flow test before going out. Unfortunately, there are no lateral flow tests available in many areas. The usual Tory government planning and efficiency.

So as the virus surges to unprecedented heights, hospitals are in crisis, the message is – ‘get together and have fun – love me for it.’

The lunatic antivaxxers were out at Milton Keyes. They believe every conspiracy going. Why believe the scientists, experts and doctors when you can believe Ethel from Texas who is sure that the Democrats have a commie plot to put hypnotic agents into the vaccine, and Jonah, from South Carolina, knows that Bill Gates is putting spyware into the vaccine, and Gus from Ohio knows it’s all a hoax. It seems that Ethel, Jonah and Gus, all of whom flunked school, know much more about these things than the professors who have spent their lives studying it.

Talk about the ignorant leading the way.

So the antivaxxers believe they have a right not only to not take the vaccine (and duck their social and personal obligations) but to actively prevent others from having their shots. Why is that? Sounds fascist to me!! They are intimidating hard-pressed NHS staff.

I’d lock ’em all up!!

The ICUs are full of antivaxxers – 90% have not had their boosters. Perhaps they should all sign a disclaimer saying that in the event of covid they should not be treated – and put their actions where their mouths are???

Stay Safe!! I think we’re back in the Dark Ages!!!

The Corona Diaries – Day 673

Posted on by Opher

It’s been a strange day in the aftermath of Christmas. A lull before New Year.

I’ve been working on my study, sorting out shelves, CDs and posters. It’s getting there!!

The weather has turned milder. We went for a walk up my hill this afternoon. The low afternoon sun broke through to bathe the fields with bright orange light so they glowed bright green. A copse of skeleton trees was caught in the glow against a backdrop of heavy purple clouds. It looked amazing. I just wished I had my camera. Warmed the spirit!!

Meanwhile, out in Coronaland our lying clown’s popularity is diving to unprecedented levels and the Tories are falling well behind. Our scarecrow is going for a populist mode of operation and ignoring the science. He is hoping that people will like the fact that he’s not bringing in more restrictions despite what Wales, Ireland and Scotland are all doing and what the scientists are asking for.

If it wins votes ignore the science – while saying, of course, that you are following the science.

That’s been the whole policy throughout – lie!! Ignore, shut down too late, open up too early, ignore the experts, then claim you are following the science. What a bunch of tossers!!

So, enjoy your Christmas get-togethers and New Year’s parties. We’ll no doubt pick up the tab further down the line. I’ve certainly been limiting my contacts. But then I’m a biologist. I understand what’s going on.

Yesterday there were either 98,515 new cases or 319,000 new cases (probably a lot more than that) depending what site you are looking at. I had to do a double-take on the 319,000. That surely can’t be right can it?? If it is then we are in big trouble.

The hospital cases increased by 500 but there is a lag between catching it and becoming very ill. Give it a week and we’ll see the effects of Christmas. Give it another week and we’ll see the effects of New Year.

Johnson’s populist policies are going to kill a lot of people!! Christmas Day had another record!!!

In the USA the death toll crossed 800,000 – heading for a million – in the pandemic that some idiots think isn’t real. How many hundreds of thousands have Trump and the Republican idiots killed now??

Give me science over internet crackpots and self-serving politicians any day!!

America is heading back to the Dark Ages!!

Stay Safe – We’re not far behind!!

Today’s Music To Keep me SSSSssAAAAaNnnnEeee in Isolation – Beatles – Help

Posted on by Opher

I’m heading back to 1965. I was sixteen and a big Beatles nut. They were on the cusp of big change – so was I.

Today’s Music to keep me SsSsSSAaaAAANNnnNNEeee in Isolation – John Lennon – Imagine

Posted on by Opher

Gimme Some Truth!!!

“Gimme Some Truth”

I’m sick and tired of hearing things
From uptight, short-sighted, narrow-minded hypocritics
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth
Ive had enough of reading things
By neurotic, psychotic, pig-headed politicians
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth

No short-haired, yellow-bellied, son of tricky dicky
Is gonna mother hubbard soft soap me
With just a pocketful of hope
Money for dope
Money for rope

No short-haired, yellow-bellied, son of tricky dicky
Is gonna mother hubbard soft soap me
With just a pocketful of soap
Money for dope
Money for rope

I’m sick to death of seeing things
From tight-lipped, condescending, mamas little chauvinists
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth now

I’ve had enough of watching scenes
Of schizophrenic, ego-centric, paranoiac, prima-donnas
All I want is the truth now
Just gimme some truth

No short-haired, yellow-bellied, son of tricky dicky
Is gonna mother hubbard soft soap me
With just a pocketful of soap
Its money for dope
Money for rope

The Corona Diaries – Day 369

Posted on by Opher

Another dull and dreary day in Yorkshire. I don’t much like dull and dreary. I’ve been indoors putting up shelves and sorting CDs. Quite enjoyable. I’ve been playing a range of music while I worked today. Now that the solstice is out of the way I’m looking forward to the days drawing out (though I’m not looking forward to the cold of January and February).

Meanwhile, out in Coronaland our feckless tramp of a prime minister sends out a Christmas message that stinks of hypocrisy. He talks about the grieving families his policies have created and tells everyone that a jab is the best gift! Well it might be but all he is interested in is his popularity. He thinks that keeping everything open and innoculating everyone will win him popularity.

I think that train has left the station.

Here’s what the New Statesman said:

‘There is much one can criticise Boris Johnson for as Prime Minister. He has little knowledge or interest in policy detail; he cannot build a strong team; he lacks a strategic vision; he refuses to grapple with reality and make hard choices; his inherent optimism leads to excessive risk-taking; he is too ill-disciplined to stick to rules; and he has a cavalier attitude to the truth. To name but a few. ‘

He’s desperately hoping that Christmas will provide respite that will make people forgive or forget. I reckon not. Once the darts and football fans get on your case I reckon it’s over.

But the problem isn’t really Johnson, useless as he is, it’s the whole bunch of extreme rabid nutcases making up the right-wing of the Tory Party. They are complete imbeciles and they, thanks to Brexit, are running the show.

Getting rid of the clown isn’t going to solve the problem. They’ll just shove another puppet into place and carry on profiteering. Politics is a big money-making racket for them.

Let’s hope that in the New Year we find a way of dumping the lot of them!!

As we hit Christmas we also hit another record with 119,789 more cases of Covid recorded yesterday along with 147 deaths. That’s a lot of covid.

I’m hearing of lots of covid cases among family and friends. The most there has ever been. This is fierce!!

Just think, as all those people travel around the country meeting up with friends and relatives – we could be in for a bumper year!!

The other news is that we might need another jab in 10 weeks time!! Looks like a repeating cycle of jabs. But at least the Omicron looks to be less of a risk – though with such a huge number the hospitalisations are rising – up to 1004 yesterday!!

I’m not sure that Boris was in much of a party mood this Christmas. Good. He had his parties last year. Now the chickens come home to roost!!

Stay safe!! Merry Christmas!!

Today’s Music to keep me SsSsssSAaaaaNnnNnNEEE in Isolation – John Fahey

Posted on by Opher

Back in the 60s I saw John play just once. It was wonderful. A great guitarist.

The Corona Diaries – Day 368

Posted on by Opher

It’s still cold and wet here in Yorkshire so I set about carpentry!! I never was much good at carpentry but I’m getting better. It’s all about attention to detail and being precise. I think that in the past I’ve tended to rush things! So, I’m building another set of shelves for CDs. I’ve bought the wood, the screws and brackets. What can possibly go wrong??

We’ll see.

Meanwhile, out in Coronaland I’m watching with some glee as the Tory Party descend into the cesspit of their own making. Johnson’s personal ratings are dire! That’s what happens when you’re a celebrity and you are found to be a lying rat. Boris is now synonymous with sleaze and lies. Makes me laugh when I hear them chanting in the world darts championship – ‘STAND UP IF YOU HATE BORIS’. They are even chanting in football stadia ‘Boris is a C**T!’

That’s some turnaround. These are the people who elected him; who thought he was a funny guy. They now think he’s a lying sleazebag. Rightly so. He is.

Of course, as we’ve seen throughout his time, Johnson is nowhere to be seen. He’s keeping his head down in the hopes that it will all blow over. It has in the past. I’m not sure it will this time though. I think his bubble has burst. People have seen through him – empty promises, loudmouth crap, slogans and headlines – no substance, no idea.

I wonder if he gave Carrie an injection or two to induce labour so he had an excuse to keep out of the limelight?? Ha Ha!! Wouldn’t surprise me. He’d do anything to cling on to power.

He certainly isn’t a leader. We don’t see him out there setting examples, leading from the front. It’s all bluster and soundbites. A party-loving, vacuous nincompoop. He can’t speak without an autocue – a bumbling fool – Peppa Pig’s got more about her!!

He thinks that by tousling his hair he can appeal to the Labour voters and be down with the people. He’s just a twat. When you see him with other world leaders he looks like a shambling wreck with as much clout and decorum as a scarecrow washed adrift in a sewage farm.

The whole world is either laughing or aghast. They see the decline of a once important country. He symbolises decay. This is what we have become – from Churchill (The scum that he was) to Worzel Gummidge.

Like Trump and Bolsonaro, I think the world has had enough of these populist, extreme right-wing twats. It’s time we went back to some compassion and care and sorted problems out instead of creating them.

Above all we want fairness and competence.

With Johnson, Trump, Bolsonaro and the rest, we get a diet of nonstop lies, fake news, conspiracy, division and incompetence.

According to these twats there is no global warming, no environmental catastrophe, scientists and experts are useless and covid is a conspiracy.

I think that if there is one thing that has come out of all this it’s that science and experts know what they are doing and Johnson and Trump haven’t got a clue!!

So, yesterday there were 119,789 new cases (though the official site says a lot less) with 147 more deaths. Another record!! The real figure could be a lot higher as many people are not testing and a lot are asymptomatic.

Should we be worried??

I’m not. Being triple vaccinated should give me immunity.

This is the highest it’s ever been but never-the-less I’m beginning to see a glimmer of hope. We could be out of this soon.

We have new antiviral pills appearing. We have new vaccines that are effective against all variants. The Omicron variant looks, from early analysis, as if it’s 50% less nasty. It spreads quick but doesn’t make you as ill.

If the Omicron provides immunity for other variants we could be in a game-changer.

However, in the short-term we still might have a crisis – a tiny percentage of a very large number is still a lot of people. The NHS could still be in trouble.

Time will tell.

Stay safe!! We might be allowed out to play soon!!

The Corona Diaries – Day 367

Posted on by Opher

Back home again!! We’ve been over to the other side of the country to visit with our oldest son wife and grandchildren! It was a kind of early Christmas. We’re not having everyone over for Christmas so we are seeing all the kids separately. Seems to work and feels a bit safer. Even though we are triple vaxxed we are not taking too many chances. It’s all about weighing up the risks.

Meanwhile, out in Coronaland, Johnson is keeping his head down (paternity leave and Christmas proves very useful!). He’s hoping that if he keeps quiet then all the problems simply go away. It’s been a highly successful tactic of his. The Tory theory is that we are all fools with short memories and his charismatic, cheeky image will see him through.

It obviously works with the ‘I Like Boris’ brigade of halfwits. I do get the distinct impression that they are beginning to see through him and have realised that behind that tousled hair and soundbites there is a devious, cynical chancer who is taking them for a ride.

No surprise to me. He’s always been a prize twat. It wouldn’t be so bad if he wasn’t so absolutely useless with it – all soundbites and empty promises at best – nasty lies and scheming arrogance.

So yesterday there were 106,122 new cases with 172 deaths. The Omicron cases rose by 13,106 to 69,147.

The unvaccinated are filling the hospitals. Silly fools.

Everywhere is locking down but it’s party time in England!! Is that just so the Tories can have their parties without castigation??

Self-isolation is being brought down from 10 days to 7 days.

The death rate going up is not good but it seems that the Omicron is not as nasty as the Delta, but only a little bit better!!

The right-wing ERG are dictating policy now. Johnson is emasculated and they have no opposition…….. yet. It’s every person for themselves. Money comes first!!

We’ll how it all goes!!!

The good news is that there is another vaccine on the horizon that threatens to provide immunity against all variants and SARS. That sounds great!!

Long live vaccination!! Here’s to science!! (Sure beats all those conspiracists on the web – the flat-earthers, biblical nutters and fourteen-year-old fake newsers). Long live science, rationality and common sense!!

Stay safe!!