Night’s candles are burnt out, and jocund day stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops.
Spanish life is not always likeable but it is compellingly loveable.
- Christopher Howse: 'A Pilgrim in Spain'*
Covid
Two retrospectives:-
The question is whether lockdowns worked to control the virus in a way that is scientifically verifiable. Based on the following studies, the answer is no and for a variety of reasons: bad data, no correlations, no causal demonstration, anomalous exceptions, and so on. There is no relationship between lockdowns (or whatever else people want to call them to mask their true nature) and virus control. Full article here.
The question that will baffle future historians is: Why did western nations largely follow one another when there were vastly better role models? Taiwan has endured few deaths from Covid, and its economy has barely been affected, growing this year by more than 2.5%. By controlling the virus with precision techniques such as tech-enabled contract tracing, it didn’t need to resort to crude lockdowns or cancel national celebrations. And it didn’t have to turn cancer and other patients away from hospitals, because there was always spare capacity to deal with them. If nothing else, doesn’t this example show that the “trade-offs” that have dominated debate in the West are largely imaginary? With competent governance, there is no trade-off between lives and livelihoods any more than there is between Covid and non-Covid deaths. By controlling transmission, it is possible to keep the economy open, hospitals open and hospitality open, too. The economy and public health are not in conflict; they are synergistic. See more below.
Living La Vida Loca in Galicia/Spain
A nice cat story to lift the Xmas gloom - Having been on the cusp of extinction, the Iberian lynx is poised to spring to a four-figure population milestone thanks to a successful and sophisticated rescue effort mounted by a coalition of conservation groups. A key member says the stock of Iberian lynx is set to reach 1,000 in 2021, which represents a remarkable turnaround after numbering less than 100 two decades ago.
Here's María's Riding The Wave: Days 36&37.
The UK
The British police say it's impossible for them to enforce the Xmas travel restrictions just imposed because of the new virus variant. Perhaps not as ruthless as the Spanish police, then . . .
Germany
More criticism but, this time, homegrown. But everything's relative, it's said.
The USA
Can you believe it? Of course you can:- President Trump considered martial law to try to overturn Joe Biden’s victory. The possibility of using the military to enforce a 2nd term is said to have been emphatically rebuffed by many of his closest advisers. But the fact that it was raised marks a new, severe turn in his attempts to defy his defeat. Perhaps he should be shot, 'trying to escape' . . .
The Way of the World
Finally . . .
Prospect Magazine has sent me an Xmas letter, starting 'Dear D'. This is presumably because they have me in their records as 'D {for David] Colin Davies'
Topical joke: A man goes to the doctor. He says: “Doc, I’m really worried about this Covid thing. How lethal is it? Do I need to wear a mask? When will we get a vaccine? And how long will the vaccine last?” And the doctor shakes his head and says: “How would I know? I’m not on Facebook.”
Updated topical cartoon:-
* A terrible book, by the way. Don't be tempted to buy it, unless you're a very religious Protestant.