One’s perspective can change by the day or by the minute and the nature of the view is all in the perspective. Today I am trying to get my ahead above the Omicron parapet; two days ago I had never heard of Omicron – the latest COVID-19 variant – and I was definitely the happierContinue reading “Different perspectives”
Tag Archives: coronavirus
Keeping an open mind
I have realised that a significant part of my internal purpose is to learn new things. This came up in digital conversation, around the role of science in society. A commentator made the point that science is a useful vehicle for asking and answering questions about the world, but that science is problematic if itContinue reading “Keeping an open mind”
Funny and not so funny
The current COVID-19 situation is paralleling one of my recent songs in my brain. The song is called ‘Knitting Zombies’. You could ask, ‘Why has Jane written a song called Knitting Zombies’, and you could also ask ‘Why would a song about knitting zombies have anything to do with COVID-19?’, both are valid questions. JaneContinue reading “Funny and not so funny”
Some animals are more equal than others
In a Trust meeting this week, one of the participants noted that she preferred ecological research proposals where the methods did not harm animals. She definitely preferred investigation of DNA from soils to establish the ecosystems present, over a proposal to investigate the effects of climate change-induced heat waves through experimentally heating invertebrates. A discussionContinue reading “Some animals are more equal than others”
Wastewater woes
Testing of wastewater for COVID-19 has become a routine method for identifying spread of the virus. I was pondering on the challenges of sampling the very large amounts of wastewater that are produced in New Zealand – 1.5B litres per day which is managed through around 320 wastewater treatment plants. From this we need manageableContinue reading “Wastewater woes”
Sublime to ridiculous
In a week I feel I have gone from the sublime to the ridiculous – from fantastic mountain views and solitude to being a participant in an opaque traffic light system. Based on the cartoons and media commentary yesterday, I appeared to be in good company thinking “Huh, what?” as our COVID traffic light systemContinue reading “Sublime to ridiculous”
Sting in the tail
Sarah is in New Zealand MIQ, enjoying the hospitality of the New Zealand government and the selection of meals at the Grand Mercure in Auckland. So we sent her pictures of us going for a mountain bike ride and having lunch in Arrowtown – we are very kind, I know. Sarah said she liked Chris’sContinue reading “Sting in the tail”
Migrant misery
We have been watching a TVNZ mini-series called The Panthers, which brings up unpleasant parallels with New Zealand’s COVID immigration situation. The Panthers were a group formed in 1971 to stand up for the rights of Pacific Islanders and Māori. They raised consciousness and supported community wellbeing in response to significant racial discrimination, prejudice andContinue reading “Migrant misery”
Wrong strategy already?!
When you get to Alert Level 2 you go do things that you couldn’t previously. Who knows how long you will be in Level 2? Therefore we headed to Wanaka on Wednesday to have dinner and go cycling with friends. We were hoping to ski but the weather gods took away the promised snow andContinue reading “Wrong strategy already?!”
Do It Now
There’s nothing like unexpected lockdowns to make you think that you should do what you can, when you can do it. Is there someone you haven’t seen lately? Give them a call or, far better, go visit them. You don’t know when a lockdown might get in the way. Want to spend some time inContinue reading “Do It Now”