New Zealand built the three turbines that powers the USA station as well as the New Zealand station.

Ross Island, Antarctica

People paid for seating. There was a bidding war.

A spot on the Atlantic City Boardwalk (click here) where movie stars, athletes and rock stars used to party — and a future president honed his instincts for bravado and hype — was reduced to a smoking pile of rubble shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday.

 

COVID-19

Global Confirmed Cases - 109,217,366 (click here)

Global Deaths - 2,413,912

Globally, about 2.2 percent of all confirmed cases die. The Americas are still leading the world in cases and deaths.

USA confirmed cases - 27,433,718

USA deaths - 482,989

The USA survival rate is lower than the global rate at 1.8 percent of all cases end in death. The USA still leads the world in cases at 25 percent of all cases.

The good news is globally the confirmed cases are trending DOWN.

Sorry, but, I really think it is the "Joe" factor. He is taking it seriously. The USA matters. Vaccines are a part of this, but, we are still at about 12 percent vaccinated in the USA. The trend started down in January.

...As of 6 a.m. EST Feb. 16, (click here) a total of 71,657,975 vaccine doses had been distributed in the U.S., and 55,220,364 had been administered, or 77.06 percent. Additionally, 39,670,551 people had received one or more doses of the vaccine, and 15,015,434 had received the full two doses. That means about 12 percent of the U.S. population had received at least one dose of the vaccine, and about 4.5 percent had been fully vaccinated....

The spikes are the concerning part. They were targeted by the vaccines. If the variants are losing their spikes, it is a problem.

February 17, 2021

Scientists have identified another new variant of coronavirus in the UK (click here) with some potentially troubling mutations.

B.1.525 appears similar to the South African variant which prompted door-to-door tests in areas where it has been found.

Researchers from Edinburgh University have found 38 cases so far - 2 in Wales and 36 in England - in samples dating back to December.

It has been seen in other countries, including Denmark, Nigeria and the US.

UK experts are studying it to understand what risk it poses.

It is too soon to say if it should be added to the UK's list of "variants of concern" and whether mass testing for it should happen. So, for now, it is a "variant under investigation"....

January 28, 2021

...After injection, (click here) the vaccine particles come into contact with immune system cells and deliver the mRNA message: you need to make this spike protein, and here’s how. As the vaccinated cells start churning out the spike protein, other immune system cells realize that the protein should not be there. That’s when the battle begins.

“The immune system starts building an immune response and making antibodies,” says Aisha Langford, PhD, MPH, assistant professor in NYU Langone’s Department of Population Health. “And that’s how we train the immune system to recognize the spike protein, and that’s what protects us from being infected.”

Your body continues to produce antibodies until all the spike proteins have been destroyed. At the end of this natural immune process, your immune system has the knowledge it needs to recognize the spike protein and fend off future exposure to the virus. So if the virus enters the body, the immune system will identify and attack it....

Stop blaming wind turbines for Texas' problems.

Left is the current temperature map for the USA.

Wind Turbines have no problem operating in Antarctica. The petroleum industry thinks they own the planet. Wrong! If it weren't so tragic it would be laughable.

YOU DON'T LISTEN!

This didn't have to happen!

February 16, 2021

Gas production (click here) in the US south central region is down by about 6.3 Bcf/d (178mn m³/d) because of wellhead freeze-offs and natural gas processing plant outages caused by extreme cold, according to the US Energy Department. These outages represent about 30pc of output in the region and about 7pc of total US production.

Gas suppliers are responding to high demand and lost output by withdrawing gas from storage. Storage withdrawals in the region are up by 10 Bcf/d compared with withdrawals made before the storm hit, the department said.

Natural gas supply outages are leaving "energy-rich Texas facing rolling blackouts," analysts with investment firm Tudor Pickering Holt said today....

Be prepared to fix the leaks when it thaws. There is also the danger of potentially larger leaks that cause explode, too. Cities and towns need to close their gas pipelines until the system is checked mile by mile to be sure there aren't going to be exploding streets and houses.

February 17, 2021

Natural gas wells (click here) and pipes ill-equipped for cold weather are a big reason why millions of Texans lost power during frigid temperatures this week. As temperatures dropped to record lows across some parts of the state, liquid inside wells, pipes, and valves froze solid.

Ice can block gas flow, clogging pipes. It’s a phenomenon called a “freeze-off” that disrupts gas production across the US every winter. But freeze-offs can have outsized effects in Texas, as we’ve seen this week. The state is a huge natural gas producer — and it doesn’t usually have to deal with such cold weather....

Texans facing hopelessness.

...need to go south to Mexico until the weather breaks. I cannot believe a Texas mayor is saying only the strong will survive. Why isn’t Abbott calling the National Guard to build heated shelters?

There is a highway that goes through Mexico to Belize. Don’t go to Guatemala.

I think the exchange rate for the US dollar in Belize is 1 to 2.

It is the Pan-American Highway System. BUT, don’t stay on it otherwise it will end in Panama. But, there is a highway that will leave the main highway to travel to Belize. In a climate emergency like this a USA drivers’ license will serve to prove ID. The Mexican authorities should understand the issue. Belize can be strict about border crossing but they will understand life and death. Belize doesn’t want drug traffic.