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The effect of COVID-19 on my plans
I was seriously engaged in international relations and extensive travel before the COVID-19 pandemic and had three trips to Asia planned for 2020.
Two trip expectations to engage on independent projects in North Korea (one to teach English and one for the Science & Technology Book Fair) and one trip planned through China and Kyrgyzstan to Uzbekistan. The COVID-19 pandemic has completely prevented these events.
I see most of my international engagement has been suspended for now and likely until late 2021 or sometime in 2022. A lot depends on the development of herd immunity to the pandemic preferably by vaccination, but otherwise through infection and death. I chose the vaccine.
I spend a lot of time at home and some other time with the immediate family that lives close by. Even other plans for family meeting from distant places has been foregone and must wait til the pandemic subsides.
I have virtually no public activity aside from necessary shopping. All such changes in lifestyle affect the social economy. From my point of view it is not nearly as active and affluent as it was, and likely will not return to such for years. My personal finances are growing with little need for spending as was customary but only because I am past the age of employment and, along with my wife, benefit from an accumulation of resources from many years of careful management of finances.
The mass of the workforce and poor people around the world have few such benefits. There is less demand for many of services and resources than previously existed. Most of the choices made by leaders are not being made to have it go otherwise. It is also more common for people to fight for the elimination of problems than to resolve and fix them. An example is greenhouse gasses in the environment. People look for ways to eliminate them rather than working to employ them. Production of carbon gasses has become a great excuse for taxes. The people in government want the money. However, the creation of new vegetation in desert regions is desirable and possible. On the scale necessary it would greatly reduce greenhouse gasses, likely moderate the weather on a global scale and provide great opportunities for a mass of humanity. But it would necessitate global bodies of study, administration and management. It would mean a fundamental change in concepts, attitudes and social relations. It would mean a change to viewing relationships as member humanity rather than identifying primarily as a part of a segregated group.
The real history of this time will ever remain a fact of life regardless of the commentary that tries to portray it otherwise. The US may continue as the leading force of economic and political life — and many will go to their graves deluded by such ideological illusions — but reality will become more clearly seen by many. This pandemic, as most do, will cause deeper consideration of our global relationships. A greater freedom from systemic prejudice will occur. Rational thought will progress. The hardship endured will teach many good lessons.
This will be a time of crucial emergence of human potential that will form new relationships for the future and consign old prejudices to the grave along with those that embody them.
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I downloaded my vaccine QR code from the Government of British Columbia website. I'm pleased with the process they have made, and clarity and simplicity of handling the image.
1 September
With the progression into this new month we are still facing the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. I take it seriously and try to find the truthful ways to respond in every activity of daily life.
These are the fundamentals of my basis of choice: "you should refer to other doctors, and follow the majority vote. It is scientific consensus arrived at through the sound methods of science, rather than a particular opinion from an individual expert, that should be sought. In this regard, there are
reputable national and international health agencies created for the purpose of assessing circumstances that impact public health and well-being, and of determining what can be considered the established scientific consensus." In this regard I consider the WHO and national health agencies of the whole world to contribute the most meaningful advice.
I see COVID-19 to be a transitory and evolving problem and need to change my understanding and behaviour as new influences emerge. I also believe that each individual inherently possesses the right to make an individual decision in these matter as to what to do, but is obliged to also follow community laws and requirements.
I acquired the vaccine as soon as possible and share my opinion that it is the best choice for most people to reduce the spread and eventually eliminate this danger from human life, in the way that smallpox and polio have been eliminated from society.
I hear many claiming to follow scientific evidence as presented by "selected experts" that they choose, but I believe the global community of scientists should be viewed as clearly as possible and the consensus of truth determined therefrom. It will remain an evolving issue and require constant adaptation. There is no final outcome visible to me at this time, and may require long term adaptability.
25 August
Pandemic has increased in August ...click
The 'opening up' is still causing the pandemic to grow as is the resistance to vaccination.
16 August
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When I went to the mailbox today I saw the most quail I've seen in this neighbourhood; close to 50.
15 August
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This evening is very windy and the fires in this area are burning out of control like the Peachland fire about 30km and across the lake from our home as can be seen from Glenmore Highlands.
11 August
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Today I think I finished the wetting system for Lindea's rock sanding machine
3 August
It is quite amazing to me that I imagine and develop such new efficient algorithms to employ while I'm rewriting the code for my China train maps to fix a problem that arose with a change on the shared server I subscribe to.
30 July
Regional forest fire smoke is inundating the valley for weeks
Flights are being cancelled and many activities are being impacted.
21 July
My website development progresses with such diversity that I have difficulty keeping these pages functional.
I am now working with pages for past years and have developed new ideas for 2015 & 2016. It challenges the design process for this page.
9 July
Pandemic now increasing in July
Many places are 'opening up' and causing the pandemic to grow.
July
My latest web development is for the 1120 Rock Club in Kelowna which continues and uses some of my newest development ideas
The development for the club has resumed as the COVID-19 regulations are easing
30 June — 5pm 45°C (113°F)
The hottest temperature I've ever seen at our home in Kelowna.
29 June — 5pm 44°C (111°F)
Almost he hottest temperature I've ever seen at our home in Kelowna.
Pandemic still raging around the world in June
I want others to know I'm fully vaccinated so they can feel safer when I'm present
18 June
David C. Ellsworth got his second injection of the Pfizer vaccine.
19 June
Lindea Parnell got her second injection of the Pfizer vaccine.
Both will be considered fully vaccinated about 3 July.
"Resort ye, in times of sickness, to competent physicians; We have not set aside the use of material means, rather have We confirmed it through this Pen, which God hath made to be the Dawning-place of His shining and glorious Cause.~Bahá'u'lláh
10 May
I was hoping to see the light of opportunity to travel to Asia by now, but see that the COVID-19 pandemic is still raging in a few considerable places around the world.
I look at the whole world to get a proper perspective for my life, but do see the situation in individual places.
I can't yet see any possible date to resume my travels. I guess a little more patience is necessary!
My first rainbow of 2021
8 May — Rainbow over Dilworth Mountain
This is the first rainbow pictures I have taken this year.
Moonrise over Black Mountain
26 April — Super moon appears over valley
This is the first full moon pictures I have taken this year.
They were taken in a hurry so they are under exposed.
22 April
It is deeply disappointing to see the increasing claims to commit to climate change almost completely void of commitment to working to make it better by improving the environment. It is now mostly about cutting emissions and conversion to sustainable energy. It reminds me of about 50 years ago when I arrive in the Okanagan Valley and shared the idea that the valley should have a freeway to allow traffic to pass by without going along roads with stoplights at almost every intersection. It is now 50 years of one major highway through every community with uncountable lights and still no leadership to implement a freeway. 50 years of all transports, trucks and cars continually burning gas under the official concept of "traffic calming". 50 years of burning unnecessary fossil fuels while the mass of people who live here think that making traffic flow difficult will keep growth restricted and prevent population growth.
I would like to see development provide for better life for the world rather than hiding the problem behind self-interest arguments and failing to make better environmental behaviour. Increase the beauty and sustainability of the earth by turning the deserts into gardens rather than fighting the illusions promoted by the protesters for prevention. Do the right thing as a world unit rather than warring with the devil. It will be difficult to study the needs and establish the means but is there an alternative for the well being of making this planet the home it was intended to be for all humanity?
9 April — Got my first dose of COVID-19 vaccine
Got the Pfizer vaccine. No problems after first couple of days Expect the second shot in about 16 weeks
Townhouse fire
6 April — Massive Fire in North Glenmore
We were awoken just before 6am with clamorous sirens. When Lindea looked out the front window she saw this massive fire less than 800m from our home and insisted I get up and look.
These pictures were taken from home when the fire was diminishing in size.
The new 2020 edition is now on sale from one of the authors on the site we have developed.
It is a very good book also for beginner adults.
I'm expecting 2021 to be the year of the most severe impact and social recognition of the COVID-19 pandemic
A lot of coding innovation for my webmaster work continuing into 2021 Many new things are being tried on A First Book of Knitting for Children while creating the site.
Market graphs
3 March
I see the price of stocks on the markets and wonder how it can be possible during such a pandemic in the world.
However, I do also see the daily movement of the markets, the assurance mainly of the Fed support (and other governments around the world) and the occasional comment of the billions of $ per day poured into the buying of securities.
I think of it as communistic capitalism.
Though appalled, I don't wonder at the extreme wealth divergence from fair economics.
I expect this diversion from real values to last about a year—perhaps quite a bit longer; but eventually the illusion that economics can be completely dictated by partisan interests will fail. The consequences will be traumatic.
First day of 2021
2021 New Year's Day
World COVID-19 daily graphs
Image slide test
I have begun the page for 2021 in the late summer of 2020.
The pandemic conditions are making my life more focused on possibilities of the mind rather than the material world.
This page has been started with a blue theme in respect for the blue feelings engendered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though it is blue I'll strive to provide a reflection of pure light.
I am using this page also to develop new code and functions.
My first rainbow of 2021
Moonrise over Black Mountain
Townhouse fire
Market graphs
First day of 2021
World COVID-19 daily graphs