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Things, and Links.
Non-weather-wise, it doesn't look quite as good: numbers of new infections are already on the rise again, which probably is due to the new virus variants getting more and more widespread. The really obnoxious thing about all this is that as of today, some more things are opening again. Hairdressers, for instance, but also garden shops and garden markets. Schools have returned to some state of openness all over the country (though of course every single one of our 16 federal states has its own rules, and its own schedule). There are debates about opening up more, and quickly - and I am quite concerned that we'll be up in the 300 incidence area soon if that is really done. (We might get there even if it's not done. I don't trust the current curve.)
Meanwhile, there's weird distrust towards the AstraZeneca vaccine. Which is... argh. Even if it is a bit less efficient than the mRNA types, it's still offering solid protection. However, since about no single place has its logistics properly managed, there's hundreds of thousands of doses sitting in fridges instead of getting jabbed into arms. Can I repeat? Argh. Especially since there's enough people who would be happy to get dosed with AZ straight away. My arm would be offered in a jiffy, too!
I really don't get why the stuff is not getting offered to people further down the priority line instead of sitting there. Really, if time is of the essence when vaccinating, if someone refuses, they can wait for however long it takes for them to get whatever they want to have as vaccine, but there should be enough people registered already that those doses can get out. May I repeat? Aargh.
Enough with the ranting for now, though - let me offer you some links, because what is better to take one's head off of current stupidities than old strings and old shit, right?
So here's a thousands-of-years-old ball of string.
Here's an article about dirt in medieval cities.
Or maybe take a look at the documents offered by the Shoe Museum in Lausanne, which include information about the footwear of Queen Aregonde.
Comments 4
Wow, what you are writing sounds exactly like the comments in my country. Either the vaccin hasn't arived, or the vaccination centres are planned full, so one can't make an appointment when allowed or only for a spot far far away.
At the same time hairdressers, restaurants, gyms and everyone with some kind of shop wants to reopen, to avoid bankrupcy. Some rules make no sence at all. Candystores sell a food product, so they are open. Book stores (and public libraries) are closed, except when they also have a collect service for packages. So one can buy stamps, get a package send off, but the stationery and the Birthday cards next to the counter are not for sale - one needs to go to a supermarket for those.
Hairdressers complained that they would loose all their costumers because they would go to either Germany or Belgium to get their hair done. Smart move to tell the general public where to find someone to cut your hair. ;^)
Ah yes, the incongruities of Lockdown Logic. There's always some rule stupidity spillage, that's to be expected, but in some cases it's really not possible to understand why something is done. (Except... well... strong lobby and lots of money can explain some of the inexplicable, sadly.)
The contradiction appears to be everywhere - though for so many reasons here in the UK I won't be nipping to mainland Europe for a haircut.
Here, the AZ and pfizer jabs are being given, with a waiting list ready for the Pfizer because once it's defrosted it's got to be used, so they'll summon spare arms to make sure it's not wasted. AZ may be slightly less effective, but it's definitely quicker and easier to store it in a fridge, with the other vaccines, than rig up an entire new infrastructure and teach people how to use it.
At least we're not alone!
We're having AZ, Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna on our menu... and most of the stuff not having been inserted into arms yet is the AZ. There's some doses of all three being kept on hold to ensure that second shots can be given, which is all fair and sensible, but, ah.
And of course each federal state handles things differently again!