Blog/January 2021/Jan 1st
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< Blog | January 2021
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Happy New Year, to those who celebrate the Gregorian year-change! So far, 2021 doesn’t appear materially different from 2020, but the year is young.
Though I’m not yet “old”, I am nevertheless on our health-fund’s “list”. The list, that is, of people who are at an elevated risk of complications from the China Flu. They sent me an email, an SMS, and called me on the phone to get me to sign up. So I’ve been given an appointment for the first of two vaccine shots in a couple days. Hopefully the vaccine will be effective, and any side effects minimal. We’ll know at some point exactly what all the considerations are. Esther, being a relatively healthy youngun’, isn’t yet eligible for the vaccination.
As of this writing, Israel has inoculated almost one million citizens (with the first shot). So far, two people died within a few hours of receiving the injection. Our authorities say there’s no connection between the shots and the deaths; however, even if there were a connection, a 1:500,000 probability of fatality is much better than the roughly 1:200 fatality risk incurred if you contract this flu. So there’s that. On the other hand, you still have a roughly 1:20 chance of contracting the disease despite having received the inoculation (which is better than the current high probability of getting it eventually, if you’re not inoculated).
Moral of the story: “Life isn’t safe” (someone, please tell the various governments that)!
Various notes:
- Jonathan Pollard has made aliyah! Thanks to President Trump, the draconian conditions of his parole from his extreme prison sentence were removed, and he was permitted to leave the US.
- As Israel prepares for the fourth national election in two years, we get ready to say goodbye, Gantz. He was tested, and found wanting (to put it mildly).
- Israelis are not pleased about our current lockdown.
- Lockdowns vs. religious freedom in the USofA.
- And Matt Walsh reviews the book, “Antiracist Baby”. Seriously, that’s a book.
In other news: 8th’s “year-end sale” was a moderate success. One of my customers said, “I have to say, it's the best software I have ever bought!”, so that’s encouraging. I was working on getting “word wrap” working correctly in all sorts of scenarios. Once I have the “markdown” GUI render working as well as I want, I’ll make a release — probably this coming week. Assuming I don’t collapse from the vaccine, that is!
I finally relented. After 2O+ years, my “Birkenstock” clogs were beyond redemption, so with much prodding from Esther (and a discount coupon for Teva-Naot), I ordered a new pair of clogs. The new ones arrived and will need to be “worn-in” since they’re pretty stiff. The old pair is relegated to garden-duty. I figured you wanted to know.
Our weather’s been typical Israeli dry winter-not-winter. Cold in the morning, fair in the afternoon, no rain. The forecast calls for warmer than average temperatures for the next week, still dry.
Our shabbat meals will include:
homemade ḥalla,
red lentil soup,
brisket,
various other salatim,
and Meyer-lemon bars.
Until next time,
shabbat shalom!
(and Happy New Year, one hopes)
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