The fly update from my compulsive digging:
"Once sterile males are prevalent enough, the fly’s population declines and then dies out.
But with sites outside Panama shut down for years, the USDA didn’t think sterile flies were being bred fast enough. It invested $21 million in a new fly-breeding facility in southern Mexico that is expected to start operations next month.
The USDA also is spending $750 million to build a fly factory in southern Texas that can produce up to 300 million sterile flies a week. It is expected to begin operating next fall."
Moreover, the flies die when temps drop below 45F/7C. So hopefully it’ll be contained after next winter, all factors active.
Don’t worry, there’s plenty other issues around and ahead
Here’s one to keep an eye on as you feel the need:
Ah, San Diego has been “abnormally dry” my whole life. You can’t be abnormal all the time, that’s just called normal.
That’s basically all of Southern California. Which I always found funny, as in the occasional times we did get a bunch of rain, we’d still be in a drought, but also experiencing flooding at the same time.
Maryse just told me that yesterday, her physical therapist (same one I go to and same one who sent her to the hospital that ONE time, saving her life most likely) told her, unprompted, that if she wanted to run a marathon, she’d build her a five-year training plan.
On the face of it, not such good news, but think about it: There’s a path towards a marathon. For someone who had a vertebra basically disintegrated around 4 years ago. There’s a path. Towards. A. Marathon.
Holy shit. How far she’s come. I’m legit choked up.
In your stupid face, cancer.
Saw some very old friends in a pub we used to go to.
Also discovered the server’s name yesterday was “Vladimira”, which is excellent.
Remember back in February/March, when a surgeon cut my shoulder, and as a somewhat indirect result, I went to London so that I’d walk a bit during the weeks I wasn’t allowed regular physiotherapy?
Well, the surgeon wants to cut the other shoulder. Can’t really blame him, can I? It’s in his bloody job description, innit it? You don’t want something painted, don’t hire a painter!
Now, my issue is, where to go this time? I expect I’ll be ready to travel around August 12th, give or take a night or two, and I’ll most likely look for a reasonably priced flight and hotel. But the opportunity to meet people I’ve known for years online in person, even have a pint or two, would definitely recommend a specific location.
EasyJet, Icelandair and Wizz Air covers Poland thoroughly, British isles fairly decently, Nordic countries and Western Europe mostly adequately, and then the occasional other destination, like Budapest, Milan, Nice and Prague. Prague is most tempting, as a location and quite reasonably priced, but I’d enjoy it much more with someone.
Does anyone I know expect to be somewhere it’s nice to visit in early August and feel like a pint, game or other social activity which does not require two functioning shoulders?
How am I today?
Tired, achy, dehydrated and discombobulated.
If you’re following the news in the UK, there was a serious train crash near Bedford yesterday. This happened shortly before I was due to head into London for a gig. I wasn’t aware of anything until I was standing on the platform waiting for a train and even then, we were only getting snippets.
I (probably somewhat unwisely) jumped in an Uber with a stranger (thanks Henrik from Sweden) and headed into London. I managed to arrive at the gig just in time for the second support act.
By that point the magnitude of events was much clearer, but I did my best to enjoy the gig and not worry about what that meant for getting home. Here’s the one photo I took:
Getting home was an absolute chore, hundreds of people waiting for a rail replacement bus to take them north out of London. When it arrived it was only a tiny local bus, maybe 40-45 seats and there was a mad dash to get on.
The bus was meant to stop at a few places on the way, but got lost twice and just drove straight to Luton where there was meant to be another bus to get me home. That didn’t arrive, so I had to take my second taxi of the day. Left London at 12am and got home at 3am.
So yeh, tired, achy, dehydrated and discombobulated, but I at least got home and I’m proud of myself for dealing with all that so well.
Thoughts with all those who were more directly involved in things yesterday.
I only found out about this train crash when a friend messaged me to check whether my husband had been on the train! He had been working from home, luckily. It looks like a nasty business though
And thus, an entire country discovered the sun for the first time.
well we’re going up to 38°C this week for several days. Lucky me is going on a business trip with the whole company from Wednesday… we’re leaving the office by bus for a 4 hour drive at 11am… I really really hope the bus air conditioning works.
Father’s day was a sad day for me.
We are both busy and overwhelmed, and planned to keep things light, but it was essentially nothing.
We went to brunch - which I had suggested, scheduled, and reserved.
My five year old gave me a gift she made at school. This was the highlight.
Other than that? My wife slept in while I got the kids ready for church. She spent the afternoon in the bedroom, half doing admin work and half scrolling social media. Around 2pm she announced “crap, I didn’t make a dinner plan, how does (x from freezer) sound?” Good. Around 5:10 “crap, I didn’t make dinner.” So I made a rushed dinner.
Anyway, no cards. None of the activities I’d suggested - I could have done it myself if I’d known it was up to me. And the one activity we could have salvaged at the end of the day was scuttled but a handful of unmanaged factors.
On the bright side, the kids genuinely like me and are at least giddy at the fact that it’s my day. I like them a lot.
… it was father’s day?
In the UK, yeah!
It was also the biggest storm I have ever seen at 4.30am, constant lightning, rain behaving weirdly, just the wildest thing. Didn’t even sound like a normal thunderstorm.
The noise was absolutely weird
I’m pretty sure it hit here and I’m disappointed I slept through it. Love a good storm.
Sorry it was a tough day for you, that sounds rough. Hugs from one dad to another. You’re doing great.
This is how my daily newsletter opened:
“Happy Tuesday! The night after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s resignation announcement, 10 years to the day after the Brexit vote, the skies over England lit up with thousands of lightning strikes. Clearly a sign from God—who is, as ever, being vague about the details.”