Messages

1

Antarctica / Re: Antarctic Ice Sheet

« on: Today at 10:17:17 AM »

Tracking Southern Hemisphere black carbon to Antarctic snow


https://phys.org/news/2020-04-tracking-southern-hemisphere-black-carbon.html
  by Chinese Academy of Sciences




"Black carbon, or BC, commonly known as soot, is a particle originated from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass burning that warms the atmosphere. When deposited in snow and ice, BC increases surface radiation absorption and can cause melt," explains Mr. Marquetto. "Some scientists say that BC is second only to CO2 in its warming effects on the climate, and studies have shown that BC concentrations have risen since the industrial revolution in several places in the world, including Greenland, the Himalayas, the Alps and even Antarctica."

But studying BC in Antarctica is logistically challenging, and only in the last decade the topic has gained more attention. "Antarctica is a vast continent, and there are regions with no BC data yet. As climatic and atmospheric models rely on field data, studying BC concentrations in Antarctic snow is essential to improve these models," adds Mr. Marquetto.

Mr. Marquetto was part of a team of Brazilian researchers led by Dr. Jefferson Cardia Simões (Polar and Climatic Center) who carried out a traverse in West Antarctica in the 2014/2015 austral summer. They travelled more than 1400 km, collecting several shallow snow cores and samples along the way to investigate the snow chemistry (and consequently the atmospheric chemistry) in the last 50 years or so. One of these shallow cores was analyzed for BC in cooperation with Dr. Susan Kaspari (Central Washington University, U.S.).


"As for sectorial sources, we know biomass burning represents around 80% of all BC emitted to the atmosphere in the Southern Hemisphere, which means that the fires happening in Australia, New Zealand and South America ultimately leave a mark in Antarctic snow."
See also:
https://phys.org/news/2013-08-arctic-sensitive-black-carbon-emissions.html

2

Consequences / Re: Hurricane Season 2020

« on: Today at 10:05:41 AM »

Pacific's monster storm destroys tourist resorts in Tonga

https://phys.org/news/2020-04-pacific-monster-storm-tourist-resorts.html
  by Mary Lyn Fonua


A resurgent Tropical Cyclone Harold flattened tourist resorts in Tonga Thursday, extending a week-long trail of destruction across four South Pacific island nations that has claimed more than two dozen lives.

The cyclone gathered pace as it bore down on the tiny island kingdom, which declared a state of emergency, warning residents to seek shelter from destructive winds and massive sea surges.

By early Thursday it had again become a scale-topping Category Five superstorm—surprising meteorologists after signs earlier in the week that its intensity was dropping.

Packing winds of up to 260 kilometres per hour (160 miles per hour), it cut power in parts of the country and police said at least three tourist resorts north of the capital Nuku'alofa had been reduced to rubble.

The cyclone killed 27 people in the Solomons late last week before barrelling southeast to directly hit Vanuatu as a Category Five, obliterating entire towns in the northern provinces.

There have been no reports of deaths in Vanuatu, Fiji or Tonga, with emergency workers saying residents in the hardest hit areas took shelter early.

"It appears that many buildings and crops have been destroyed and some people in the most affected areas have lost everything," Red Cross Vanuatu secretary general Jacqueline de Gaillande said.

Harold weakened slightly to a still-formidable Category Four as it lashed Fiji on Wednesday but hopes the storm was dissipating were dashed as it regathered momentum heading towards Tonga.

"We knew the track it was going to take but initially everyone thought it was just going to be Cat 3 or 4, but as it progressed over open warm waters it deepened."

"It's almost unheard of to see a cyclone tracking south away from the equator, weakening, then suddenly returning back to Cat 5 so far south," he said.

The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated disaster relief efforts, with Vanuatu reluctant to open its international borders as it seeks to remain one of the few countries without any confirmed virus cases.

3

The rest / Re: Arctic Café

« on: Today at 07:03:52 AM »

The cows have been inside under tubelight and on concrete for the whole winter. A winter that didn't even have any snow or ice. "Why are cows inside?" I ask myself often.

Finally the cows can go outside! Enjoy.
(5m17)
https://www.omropfryslan.nl/nijs/951566-fideo-de-koweduns-yn-burgum

4

Antarctica / Re: Ice Apocalypse - MULTIPLE METERS SEA LEVEL RISE (narrated video)

« on: April 04, 2020, 08:11:43 AM »

^^
sidd (and others), do you think this line of reasoning is correct?

Less CO₂ gets sequestered by the ocean (plankton) → more CO₂ stays in the atmosphere → antropogenic CO₂ (outside carbon cycle) has a greater warming effect because more stays in the atmosphere than earlier thought → higher climate sensitivity from our extra CO₂.

5

Consequences / Re: COVID-19

« on: April 03, 2020, 03:34:49 PM »

Re: the graph above.
In the winter of 2018 our ICU's weren't overrun.

Re: RikW
Max ICU capacity for COVID-19 patients in the Netherlands is being expanded to 2400.

6

Consequences / Re: COVID-19

« on: April 03, 2020, 09:08:51 AM »

U.S.A.
'A perfect storm': US facing hunger crisis as demand for food banks soars

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/02/us-food-banks-coronavirus-demand-unemployment
  by Nina Lakhani in New York


 Excerpts:
Food banks are reporting unprecedented demand across the US as millions lose jobs, investigation shows.

An unprecedented number of Americans have resorted to food banks for emergency supplies since the coronavirus pandemic triggered widespread layoffs.

The demand for food aid has increased as much as eightfold in some areas, according to an investigation by the Guardian, which gives a nationwide snapshot of the hunger crisis facing the US as millions become unemployed.

The national guard has been deployed to help food banks cope with rising demand in cities including Cleveland, Phoenix and St Louis amid growing concerns that supplies may run low as the crisis evolves.


“I’ve been in this business over 30 years, and nothing compares to what we’re seeing now. Not even when the steel mills closed down did we see increased demand like this,”

This week, the Guardian contacted food banks and pantries in nine states, which all reported unprecedented demand, plummeting donations from retailers, and a fall in personnel due to the coronavirus crisis.

Half of American adults have either no emergency savings or not enough to cover three months of living expenses, according to Bankrate’s 2019 Financial Security Index.


“First we saw people who lived paycheck to paycheck, got laid off and didn’t know where the next meal was coming from, followed by those who had a couple of weeks of savings. Now, people who knew about us because they donated or volunteered are coming in for food,”

7

Consequences / Re: COVID-19

« on: April 03, 2020, 06:21:30 AM »

I think of a possible situation in about a month's time where the rest of the world is sending supplies and equipment to the U.S.A..
Do you think that is a likely outcome?

Will it change the U.S.A. government's view on international cooperation and aid?
Will there be an overdue introspection?

8

Consequences / Re: COVID-19

« on: March 31, 2020, 03:55:40 PM »

off-topic
Terry, I sit outside in nature and people come walking past at a 2-4m distance and the wind provides a draft. We don't wear masks here but I imagine that it would not be frowned upon except for some people assuming that the wearer is infected.
Your friend could go out and sit in nature like me. Perhaps cycle a bit to go to a nice place. Wearing a mask if she wants to.
If she lives in the center of a large city she must be used to public transport, having no car.

Is there something special about people from Florida? In making her afraid to wear a mask outside?
\off-topic

9

The rest / Re: Economic Inequality

« on: March 31, 2020, 10:37:58 AM »

https://phys.org/news/2020-03-poor-people-greater-financial-hardship.html

"Poor people experience greater financial hardship in areas where income inequality is greatest"
  by Princeton University

 Excerpts:
"Our work shows that hardship increases for low-income individuals by reducing their ability to rely on their community as a buffer against financial and other related difficulties," said co-author Elke Weber, Gerhard R. Andlinger Professor in Energy and the Environment and professor of psychology and public affairs at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. "This suggests that stimulus measures designed to address the economic and social fallout of the coronavirus should focus on reducing the existing income and wealth gap in our country."

The study was an interdisciplinary effort led by psychologists and economists using data analysis strategies across disciplines.

The researchers conducted eight studies looking at more than one million people across the United States, Australia, and Uganda. Their work included an instrumental variable analysis, lab experiments, online studies, and field work.

Their findings were as expected: Across all countries, the greater the economic inequality, the harder the financial hardship for those with the lowest incomes.
..
'Trickle down' you say?

"In light of COVID-19, stimulus bills could help address some of these issues, while financially helping the most vulnerable."

Let's see what'll happen. Expect the complete opposite


One gets rich(er) by:

• not sharing
• showing less empathy and removing your conscience
• not wanting to pay tax
• enclosing yourself in a bubble of rich(er) people
• moving poor people out of sight
• lowering ones morality to find justification for your actions
• using P.R. (lies) to hide your real motives

If you're really successful, you might buy celebrity-ness and poor people will look up to you. Might even see you as a saviour.

10

Science / Re: Methane sources from oceans, industry and non arctic land sources

« on: March 31, 2020, 09:37:11 AM »

^^
video from above link (2m18) "NASA Models Methane Sources, Movement Around Globe"

11

Arctic sea ice / Re: The 2020 melting season

« on: March 30, 2020, 03:12:03 PM »

Thanks uniquorn. Great work.

12

Policy and solutions / Re: Lessons from COVID-19

« on: March 30, 2020, 03:09:10 PM »

^^
"The biosphere is happy"

Is that really what you think? I find it absurdly wrong.

13

Consequences / Re: COVID-19

« on: March 29, 2020, 10:33:17 AM »

Some news from The Netherlands.

In my province Fryslân the police has entered a youngsters' party at someones house. Stopped the party and fined the participants.

Large supermarkets can be entered only one-at-a-time.

Contrary to earlier statements here, The Netherlands are not in a total lockdown such as Italy and Spain are.

I see and read much solidarity here. Attention for the elderly and many people wanting to help.
What really suprises me is that there are no children outside playing even though the schools are closed and there are far fewer cars on the roads. They and their parents must be sitting inside every day. On top of that, it has been beautiful sunny weather and there are woods very close by. Unf*king believable. What a misled generation (I am looking at you commerce and especially the U.S.A. social media shit. Poor children.)

The manufacturing company Philips has brought 100 artificial respiration machines from the U.S.A. to The Netherlands for use in our growing number of I.C.'s.
Aren't they needed more in the U.S.A.? Well, perhaps it's a good counter action for the callous Mexico trip from someone in the U.S.A.. At least it is not stealing from the less rich.

The Netherlands received 1.2 million face masks from China but after testing, half of them were found to be of very poor quality.

Some patients are going to be moved to Germany to free up I.C. space in our hospitals.

14

The forum / Re: Arctic Sea Ice Forum Humor

« on: March 27, 2020, 05:29:22 AM »

^^
To put a context to HapHazard's post:

"Buzz Killington (voiced by Danny Smith) – A man who dresses and acts as if he is a 19th-century British man of means. His name is based on the term "buzzkill". He is a stereotype of a socially popular person in the late 19th century[citation needed], but by today's standard would be regarded as a "buzzkill". He is typically introduced into otherwise fun situations, such as a wild party, but his contributions (showing etchings, telling stories) bring the party (and fun) to a grinding halt."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Family_Guy_characters#Buzz_Killington

What party or fun situation are you referring to?

15

Consequences / Re: Climate change, the ocean, agriculture, and FOOD

« on: March 27, 2020, 05:24:27 AM »

^^
"The reef system, which covers over 2,300km (1,400 miles), is a World Heritage site recognised for its "enormous scientific and intrinsic importance""

This view depends strongy on whom does the recognising.
The important powerful people who make all the policies have this view:

...a World Heritage site recognised for its "enormous economic and tourism importance"

How to change this view?

Re: potable water stress. I think 2050 is too far away in the future. 2030 will be bad enough as many places already experience this stress and will be very likely without potable water within a decade. Then what?

16

Policy and solutions / Re: Lessons from COVID-19

« on: March 27, 2020, 05:12:23 AM »

Let us think more about the world wide population and all of living nature when discussing economics and energy policies and the future. Let us think more long term and all-inclusive.

This pandemic shows that we are all in the same boat and should help each other.
Especially in times of crises. The main crises are AGW/Biosphere collapse.

This pandemic tells us that 'our' main focus should be on (other) humans and not on the economy/finance.
Let us seriously analyse and rethink the evil dogma of Neoliberalism.

Let us stop with the dogmatic focus on growth. Let us rethink long term solutions. Take the reins away from commercial enterprise.

17

The rest / Re: Arctic Café

« on: March 26, 2020, 04:24:39 PM »

Sorry Terry, I was not referring to the current situation with that. Got a bit carried away I think.

And please make sure that Carole is as good protected as you when outside or in contact with others. I assume she is. Your (and her?) survival may be at stake I think and that is frightening.
You have all the excuses to hit that bong and enjoy yourselves (within healthy limits).

18

The rest / Re: Arctic Café

« on: March 26, 2020, 07:51:49 AM »

It is so wonderfully quiet outside. Just sounds from living nature, mainly birds.
The usual constant background noise of car tires is gone. A lot less heavy agricultural machinery noises. It would be great if the fighter jets would stay grounded as well.
Yesterday a dolphin was photographed swimming in the harbour of Harlingen (Harns). Wow.

This week has been wonderful weather, bright sunshine and a clear blue sky after months of grey moist overcast. It is still cold though with a stiff breeze.
Sitting in the woods, during July-December I would seldom hear any bird. Maybe every half hour on average a woodpigeon. Now every day they give such a beautiful chorus. Thank you dear birds.
With the sunshine came a lot of small midgets which is nice to see because insects have been even more absent than birds.

Please stop driving cars. Please stop using aeroplanes. Buy as much local products as possible. Don't go shopping but buy from a premade list. Try to repair in stead of throwing away. Don't buy take-away or delivered food. Don't use technology if not really necessary and then use the lowest tech that can do the job. Utilize your body. Buy a bike. Stop mowing the lawn. Lose your wants and desires. Be nice to all other people, including Mr. Trump. Don't have an ego and be vulnerable (but strong). Don't choose the easy path. Be a beautiful human.
Be outside. Reality is outside.

Let's remove all the noise and pollution from living nature by not generating it yourself and not participating in systems that generate it.
Your actions matter.
Let us please give something back to nature by (radically) changing our behaviour. As long as we still have a choice.

19

The forum / Re: Arctic Sea Ice Forum Humor

« on: March 26, 2020, 04:26:43 AM »

^^
Medical personnel excluded.

20

Science / Re: Trends in Atmospheric N2O

« on: March 25, 2020, 04:10:34 AM »

^^
Ramen!

21

The rest / Re: Good music

« on: March 24, 2020, 08:58:37 AM »

An attractive Norwegian youngster:
Leif Garrett - I Was Made For Dancing (1979)



Here the same guy in 2017
"He later received much publicity for his drug abuse and legal troubles."



The Verve - The Drugs Don't Work (1997)

22

The rest / Re: Good music

« on: March 24, 2020, 08:43:40 AM »

A new theme?

Bryan Ferry - Don't Stop The Dance (1985)

23

The rest / Re: Good music

« on: March 24, 2020, 08:40:05 AM »

Harmonicats - Peg O' My Heart (i) (1947)

24

The rest / Re: Good music

« on: March 24, 2020, 08:37:57 AM »

Beautiful song Neven. Haven't heard it for some time.
I have too many nice Beatles songs to choose from.

Everything But the Girl - Each And Everyone (1984)

25

Consequences / Re: COVID-19

« on: March 23, 2020, 05:12:08 PM »

Re: #3649
I am completely with you on that Bruce. Very nice to read.

26

The rest / Re: Good music

« on: March 23, 2020, 04:44:38 PM »

I loved the series. And Orac and Liberator were like magic
For binge watching you could try Red Dwarf if you like that?

27

The rest / Re: Good music

« on: March 23, 2020, 06:45:36 AM »

This is not from European culture and I don't know it but I wish wili'll like it.

Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique ('Egg Man') (1989)

28

The rest / Re: Good music

« on: March 23, 2020, 06:38:59 AM »

Dudley Simpson Orchestra - Theme From 'Blake's 7' (i) (1978)

29

The rest / Re: Good music

« on: March 22, 2020, 10:12:01 AM »

I can't find another reason for a Portuguese Language song called "Charlie Brown". Sung by a Belgian trio.

Don't you love the dancing in the clip?
I had a good laugh.

30

Consequences / Re: Climate change, the ocean, agriculture, and FOOD

« on: March 22, 2020, 10:04:33 AM »

In the mirror my hair is reminding me of the way I was wearing it in the 70's

I am very surprised by this. Your haircolour came back? 

Fun fact: My hair hasn't been cut since August 2018.

Back to thread topic.

31

The rest / Re: Good music

« on: March 22, 2020, 05:44:38 AM »

Two Man Sound - Charlie Brown (pg) (1975)

32

The rest / Re: Good music

« on: March 22, 2020, 05:43:14 AM »

Crystal Gayle - Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue (1977)

33

The rest / Re: Good music

« on: March 22, 2020, 05:41:21 AM »

Taraf De Haïdouks - Cacurica Dances (i) (2001)

34

Consequences / Re: Global recession

« on: March 22, 2020, 04:57:34 AM »

Excellent reasoning there Bruce.

35

Antarctica / Re: Ice Apocalypse - MULTIPLE METERS SEA LEVEL RISE (narrated video)

« on: March 21, 2020, 04:25:01 PM »

People want wealth and wealthy people use more energy as discussed in the linked reference

Best strategy but very difficult for wealthy people: Use less energy.

36

The rest / Re: Good music

« on: March 21, 2020, 04:20:33 PM »

I will try to post as many videos as I can

I'd rather you don't Tom

37

Antarctica / Re: Sea Ice Extent around Antarctica

« on: March 21, 2020, 04:16:16 PM »

You have a loving daughter gerontocrat.

38

The rest / Re: Good music

« on: March 21, 2020, 10:32:31 AM »

Tom, I think it is possible to copy-and-paste a youtube link on your smartphone. If somehow you're not able to do that, you could always input the youtube url by hand.

I guess it's not your computer that's kaput but likely your operating system (I may be wrong). You could try installing a linux distribution such as ubuntu.
Downloads: https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop

39

The rest / Re: Good music

« on: March 21, 2020, 08:28:11 AM »

Juliane Werding - Geh Nicht In Die Stadt (de) (1984)

40

The rest / Re: Good music

« on: March 21, 2020, 08:26:58 AM »

Led Zeppelin - Ramble On (1969)

41

Consequences / Re: COVID-19

« on: March 21, 2020, 06:55:31 AM »

If everyone assumes that they are carriers

SO the best way is to pretend we care but really, just let it in.  Don't test until it is too late to do contact tracing.  Recommend no mask. No PPE for workers. Then cook up some marvelous Herd immunity BS that makes people happy. and let it rip

Great contributions Archimid. Thank you.

42

Consequences / Re: Global recession

« on: March 21, 2020, 05:08:34 AM »

Your cat-bounce cartoon made me laugh out loud vox. Brilliant.
Thanks again for all your creative cartoon selections and unrelentless high quality COVID-19 posting.

43

Consequences / Re: Climate change, the ocean, agriculture, and FOOD

« on: March 20, 2020, 10:24:32 AM »

Unseasonal rain and hail damages crops in India, hits farmers' income

https://news.trust.org/item/20200316183018-r5p0q/
  by Mayank Bhardwaj, Reuters


NEW DELHI, March 16 (Reuters) - Unseasonal torrential rains and hailstorms have damaged the winter-planted crops of millions of Indian growers, inundating wheat, potato, chickpea and rapeseed farms in large parts of the fertile northern plains, farmers said.

Most farmers were caught by surprise by the repeated rain and hail that has lashed fields full of mature crops, raising concerns about quality degradation, threatening to cut yields, and pushing back harvests.


Rains have hit the wheat crop in the northern states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, India's grain belt.

"The crop has suffered extensive and irreversible damage in eastern Uttar Pradesh," said Sudhir Panwar, chief of farmers' group Kisan Jagriti Manch. "The government is yet to assess the damage, and by the time the farmers get any compensation from the government, it will be too late."


Indian farmers grow staples such as wheat and rice because the Indian government, which runs the world's biggest food welfare programme, buys the crops at guaranteed prices which invariably go up every year.


The untimely rains have also brought misery to potato and chickpea farmers in the northern and some central parts of the country, Panwar said.

"Even the farmers who have been able to salvage their crops, will find it difficult to get reasonable prices due to quality issues," said Dharmendra Malik, a farm leader from Uttar Pradesh.

44

The rest / Re: Unsorted

« on: March 20, 2020, 09:56:01 AM »

Why are poor grown-ups in Africa and Asia full of colour (especially women) and are the rich people in Europe and N-America so colourless? Clothes, house interiors, cars are in general all colourless. I think it is a symptom of a damaged psyche.

45

Consequences / Re: Climate change, the ocean, agriculture, and FOOD

« on: March 20, 2020, 09:51:22 AM »

Climate shocks in just one country could disrupt global food supply

   A study looked at how severe drought could hit U.S. wheat harvests
    - and ripple around the world, driving up food prices

https://news.trust.org/item/20200320042228-iyodj/
  by Thin Lei Win, Thomson Reuters Foundation

ROME, March 20 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Catastrophic crop failures caused by extreme weather in just one country could disrupt global food supplies and drive price spikes in an interconnected world, exposing how climate change threatens global stability, researchers said on Friday.

They examined how the global trade and supplies of wheat, a crop used for food staples like bread and pasta, would be affected by four years of severe drought in the United States, one of the world's top exporters of the grain.

Based on two models of how countries could try to meet their needs, an international research team found the United States would deplete nearly all its wheat reserves after four years in both scenarios, while global stocks could drop by 31%.

The 174 countries to which America exports wheat would see their reserves decrease, even though they did not themselves suffer failed harvests, according to a study published in the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems.

"It affects almost every country in the world because the U.S. has so many trade links," said lead author Alison Heslin, a researcher at Columbia University's Center for Climate Systems Research and NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

Those links mean there is a cascading effect, either directly from the United States or via one of its trading partners, which could reduce the amount of wheat available and increase prices, she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

As reserves are depleted, changes in production would have a bigger impact on the price of food, Heslin added.

Reduced global reserves would also mean a smaller buffer against future shocks such as a drought in other wheat-producing nations like Russia or France, she said.

Scientists have warned hotter temperatures and more erratic rainfall could increase the frequency and intensity of droughts, with multi-year droughts already wreaking havoc in many nations.

Five years of recurring droughts have destroyed maize and bean harvests in Central America's Dry Corridor, for example, leaving poor farmers struggling to feed their families and pushing them to migrate, the United Nations said in 2019.

The wheat study was based on data from the 1930s American Dust Bowl disaster when maize and wheat production plummeted due to intense drought, higher temperatures and strong winds, causing thousands of deaths.

Heslin said global food security was key to people's health and safety, with international food price spikes in 2008 and 2011 curtailing families' ability to purchase food and rattling political stability as people protested on the streets.

Maintaining strategic food reserves and a diverse set of trading partners could help countries reduce risks, she added.

46

Consequences / Re: COVID-19

« on: March 20, 2020, 08:09:39 AM »

Reply to #3170:
https://forum.arctic-sea-ice.net/index.php/topic,2996.msg255027.html#msg255027

Dear Terry,

Thank you for your concern.
My income is sufficient. Nothing has changed in my consumption pattern. Yet.
With "unproductive", do you mean 'Ill'? I am unemployed and receive benefits ("bijstand uitkering") of 1000 euros per month.
I cook my own food and don't use take-away or bring-to-me services. Our supermarkets are well-stocked. When I go to the supermarket it is always early in the morning and at that time there are only a few other shoppers. My bus travels are also early in the morning. I used to sit amongst many schoolyouth but now the schools are closed, the bus will be almost empty.
I won't join waiting lines if I have a choice. My fear is not that I will catch COVID-19 because of what it'll do to my health, but the fact that I'm a danger to others when infected. Too bad this isn't South-Korea and only medical personnel are tested as a precaution. The policy of 'Herd immunity" is a callous policy imo.

If I would become bedridden there will be no one to care for me because I have nobody to call or ask. There are professional care givers working for old people in my appartment complex but I don't think I'm eligible for their care should the need arise.

I expect I will, at the most, experience mild symptoms from the virus when I'm infected. I have no fear for myself. When I get seriously ill, I might have a problem but I am used to much discomfort, adapt easily and am not afraid to die.

Dogs are abundant here and I have already warned others that dogs cannot get infected but can carry the virus (saliva,nose,fur?). I have no habit of stroking or touching dogs. I have never owned a pet animal.

Luckily my income is not dependent on any action by me. It is a monthly automatic payment that goes directly to my bank account. I am well aware of the fact that our country has a much higher standard in social security than e.g. the U.K. or the U.S.A. Even after 4 decades of Neoliberalism/Austerity and continuing breaking down of the social security net and utilities.
I have worked for 34 years of my life (1981-2014) and don't expect to find another job that fits my morality of not-participating-in-bad-systems. There is a chance that the government will make me do work for no salary and cut my income if I don't comply. I refuse to be a slave and will probably kill myself.

This village and its people are new to me. I have no friends and contacts after 4 years of voluntary hermitage for research. No (ex-)partner and no children.
A social network is not easy to build. By not staying at home but sitting in the woods for 4 hours per day, I meet many people and slowly some contacts are becoming better and more personal. I am not yet at the stage that I can visit people at their homes. I don't have telephone numbers of any of them and only know the last names of some of them.


Terry, I am not sure if I understood all your questions, so when my answers aren't sufficient, please state them again in a different form. Please don't worry about me, I am fit (famous last words).

I presume that Carole and you are in a much different situation. Could you let us know how your daily routines have changed? Are you in fear? How is social network keeping in touch? Do you cook yourself or do you get food delivered? Do you have an income or just the dividends of personal financial investments? Even without COVID-19 you have health problems and are infirm as I understand. Can Carola cope with this situation where outside help won't enter? I guess that she has to lift you from your chair.
Is there a rural place you own or can rent in order to flee the crowded city? Being in the country side can feel like a relieve I think, as long as you are not too far from a hospital.
Is the Canadian Mensa network active and listening?

47

Consequences / Re: COVID-19

« on: March 19, 2020, 10:36:54 AM »

Being unemployed and without friends and without social life (apart from the weekly knitting club which is canceled), I still have daily social contacts. Sitting in the woods daily for some 4 hours, many people pass by (at 2-3m distance) and many people stop for a talk. Almost all talk is about corona virus and the weather. I refrain from touching their dogs with my hands.

I wish that the old ladies (75+) from my knitting club don't catch the virus. Again this morning there was an ambulance to pick someone up on a stretcher. Most of my neighbours are 75+yo. I care about them.

48

The rest / Re: Good music

« on: March 19, 2020, 10:22:49 AM »

Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up (1971)

49

The rest / Re: Good music

« on: March 19, 2020, 10:21:08 AM »

Barbra Streisand - Second Hand Rose (from 'Funny Girl') (1968)

50

The rest / Re: Arctic Café

« on: March 19, 2020, 10:11:35 AM »

Great song ivica. Beautiful.