Daily Post – August 21st

Posted on August 21, 2021 by JJS

Living through a pandemic

in the south of France

519 days in Carcassonne since

1st lockdown in March 2020

DAILY STATISTICS HERE

▫️ HOME’S NEWS DESK

✏️ Daily update – National

CONTAMINATIONS
This Friday 20 August, 22,319 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in 24 hours, according to figures from Santé publique France, bringing the total number of confirmed cases since the beginning of the epidemic to 6,579,675.

The positivity rate, which measures the number of positive cases in relation to the number of people tested, stands at 3.3%.

HOSPITALISATIONS
The number of Covid patients in hospital is now 10,515 (including 887 new admissions).

Hospitalisations in critical care units, which take care of the most serious cases, remain high, with 2,091 patients.

DEATHS
83 people have died of Covid-19 in hospitals in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths in France to 113,264, including 86,689 in hospital.

VACCINATION
To date, 47,321,110 people have received at least one injection, i.e. 70.2% of the total population, and 40,902,443 people have had a complete vaccination schedule, i.e. 60.7% of the total population.

✏️ Regional update

The epidemic data in the Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales thanks to the figures communicated this Friday by Santé publique France.

In Aude, this Friday evening, 101 people were hospitalised because of Covid-19 (+3 in 24 hours). This is the first time that the 100 hospitalisations mark has been passed in the department since 17 May. In addition, 15 patients are in intensive care (+1 in 24 hours), 71 are in conventional hospitalisation (+2), 13 in follow-up or long-term care (stable number) and 1 in other structures. No additional deaths are to be reported this Friday. The coronavirus has caused the death of 381 people in the Aude since the beginning of the pandemic.

The incidence rate continues to fall in the department. It is 371.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the sliding week from 11 to 17 August (published on 20 August) compared to 372.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the sliding week from 10 to 16 August.

Hospitalisations down in the Pyrénées-Orientales
In the Pyrenees-Orientales, this Friday evening, 130 people are hospitalised because of Covid-19 (-5 in 24 hours). Among them, 26 are in intensive care (as much as on Thursday), 55 in conventional hospitalisation (-4), 35 in follow-up care or long-term care (-1) and 14 in other structures (stable number).
No deaths were reported this Friday in the Pyrénées-Orientales. The number of deaths linked to Covid-19 in the department had not been stable over one day since 13 August. In total, 365 people have died in hospital in the Pyrénées-Orientales since the beginning of the epidemic.

In the Pyrénées-Orientales, the incidence rate continues to fall. In the sliding week from 11 to 17 August (published on 20 August), it was 372 cases per 100,000 inhabitants compared to 393.1 per 100,000 in the sliding week from 10 to 16 August.

✏️ Occitanie: reinforcement of water restrictions in the face of the drought, particularly in the Aude

Despite some rain at the beginning of the summer, the drought is gaining ground in Occitanie. All the departments are affected by water restriction measures, notably in the Aude where the situation has been raised to the maximum alert level this Thursday 19 August.
Water reserves are becoming increasingly scarce. This year again, the drought does not spare Occitanie, and in particular the departments of Languedoc and Roussillon. In spite of the rains of July and the beginning of August, the level of the water tables is decreasing, and the hydrological deficit noted for several months could not be caught up. This situation is not expected to improve, as the weather forecasts predict dry and hot weather until the end of the month.

As a result, the alert level in the Gard, Hérault and Pyrénées-Orientales has been placed on reinforced vigilance.

Crisis situation in the Aude
The department of Aude has been placed in crisis level this Thursday 19 August. Thierry Bonnier, the prefect, has decided to reinforce the water restriction measures on the Berre and Orbieu catchment areas. The other catchment areas are maintained at the level currently in force, i.e. reinforced alert level.

This means that all non-priority water abstractions, including those for agricultural purposes, are prohibited. Only drinking water and water used for health and civil security purposes may still be abstracted.

The situation is particularly critical in the Corbières area, especially in the commune of Durban-Corbières, where the spring that supplies the water network has almost dried up. A tanker had to be called in to fill a reservoir with drinking water, the use of which is strictly regulated. Indeed, access to drinking water is interrupted from 2pm to 6pm and from 10pm to 5am, and the inhabitants of the village must limit themselves to the strict minimum.

In the department, numerous restrictions are also in force: watering public and private lawns and green spaces is prohibited, as is filling swimming pools and washing cars, except for professional installations. Watering vegetable gardens is still possible, but only for two hours a day between 8pm and 8am.
The Aude prefecture is calling on the population to “show exemplary behaviour by scrupulously respecting these restrictions”. Water resources should continue to become scarcer in the weeks to come and the prefecture is already warning that new restrictions should be taken at the beginning of next week.
If the situation does not give rise to fears of potential drinking water shortages in the next few days, this scenario cannot be ruled out, and the prefecture is asking the water management services to prepare for this without delay.

▫️ 24 HOURS OF LE MANS

Today is round four of the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the long-awaited 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans.

This year opens a new chapter in the fabulous history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Indeed, today at 16.00 CEST, the cars of the new Hypercar category, replacing the former LMP1, will compete on the Le Mans track for the very first time.
The teams Toyota Gazoo Racing, Alpine Elf Matmut and Glickenhaus Racing will line up on the starting grid of the mythical track of La Sarthe, alongside the LMP2 and LMGTE Pro and

This year opens a new chapter in the fabulous history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Indeed, today at 16.00 CEST, the cars of the new Hypercar category, replacing the former LMP1, will compete on the Le Mans track for the very first time.
The teams Toyota Gazoo Racing, Alpine Elf Matmut and Glickenhaus Racing will line up on the starting grid of the mythical track of La Sarthe, alongside the LMP2 and LMGTE Pro and GTE Am categories.

I shall, unusually, not be there for the race but am ready to watch as much as possible on-line, TV etc. I am all set up.

▫️ MUSIC

There are a lot of programs currently about Queen then and now. They show a lot of hits but the one appearing to be common to all programs seems to be this one.

▫️ TRAVEL NEWS

Travel Page. has been updated with the latest information below:

▫️ FUN

Let us see how good your French is

▫️ NEWS FROM ACROSS THE POND 🇺🇸

Some more gems from crazy USA

  ▫️  ADDITIONAL READS FOR TODAY

 📖  The Next Big Challenge for Lunar Astronauts? Moon Dust 

🏠

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Daily Post – August 20th

Posted on August 20, 2021 by JJS

Living through a pandemic

in the south of France

518 days in Carcassonne since

1st lockdown in March 2020

DAILY STATISTICS HERE

▫️ HOME’S NEWS DESK

✏️ Daily update – National

CONTAMINATIONS
On Thursday 19 August, 23,973 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in 24 hours, according to figures from Santé publique France, bringing the total number of confirmed cases since the beginning of the epidemic to 6,557,356.

The positivity rate, which measures the number of positive cases in relation to the number of people tested, stands at 3.4%.

HOSPITALISATIONS
The number of Covid patients in hospital is now 10,392 (including 976 new admissions).

Hospital admissions in critical care units, which take care of the most serious cases, remain high, with 2,049 patients, including 186 new admissions in 24 hours.

DEATHS
127 people have died of Covid-19 in hospitals in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths in France to 113,182, including 86,607 in hospital.

VACCINATION
To date, 47,127,195 people have received at least one injection, i.e. 69.9% of the total population, and 40,508,406 people have had a complete vaccination schedule, i.e. 60.1% of the total population.

✏️ Regional update

Thanks to the figures communicated this Thursday by Santé publique France, here is the balance of the epidemic in the Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales.

In Aude, this Thursday evening, 98 people are hospitalised because of Covid-19 (+5 in 24 hours), including 15 in intensive care (as much as on Wednesday). 69 are in conventional hospitalisation (+5), 13 in follow-up or long-term care (stable number) and 1 in other structures. Two additional deaths are to be deplored this Thursday. The coronavirus has caused the death of 381 people in the Aude since the beginning of the pandemic.

The incidence rate continues to fall in the department. It is 372.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the week from 10 to 16 August (published on 19 August) compared to 394.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the week from 9 to 15 August.

12 hospital deaths in one week in the Pyrénées-Orientales
In the Pyrenees-Orientales, this Thursday evening, 135 people are hospitalised because of Covid-19 (-1 in 24 hours). Among them, 26 are in intensive care (as much as on Wednesday), 59 in conventional hospitalisation (-2), 36 in follow-up care or long term (+1) and 14 in other structures (stable number).
The department deplores two additional deaths in 24 hours (12 in one week), which brings to 365 the total of victims in hospital since the beginning of the epidemic.

In the Pyrénées-Orientales, the incidence rate is back under 400 infections. In the sliding week from 10 to 16 August (published on 19 August), it was 393.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants compared to 408.4 per 100,000 in the sliding week from 9 to 15 August.

▫️ MUSIC

“Music is the greatest communication in the world. Even if people don’t understand the language that you’re singing in, they still know good music when they hear it.” – Lou Rawls

▫️ TRAVEL NEWS

Travel Page. has been updated with the latest information below:

20/08: From September 1st, French and European travellers will again be exempted from short-stay visas to enter South Korea, but will have to obtain an electronic travel authorisation and respect a 14-day quarantine.
20/08: As of 1 September, only vaccinated people will be able to enter Oman.
20/08: Singapore to reopen its borders to vaccinated travellers from Germany, Hong Kong, Brunei and Macau.
20/08 : Thailand extends quarantine-free entry for vaccinated people to Koh Phi Phi, Koh Ngai, Railay, Khao Lak, Koh Yao, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in addition to Phuket.


19/08 : From 1 September, North Macedonia will require either a vaccination certificate, a PCR test less than 72 hours old, or proof of having been infected with covid.
19/08: Morocco and Algeria move to France’s red list. Unvaccinated travellers will have to justify a compelling reason, present a negative test and isolate themselves for ten days on their return to France.

▫️ FUN

▫️ THE FABULOUS FRIDAY (FUNNIES) GROANS from Paul

Sunny Friday greetings to you all

✒︎A man rushed into the doctor’s office and shouted, “Doctor! I think I’m shrinking!!”

The doctor calmly responded, “Now, settle down. You’ll just have to be a little patient.”

✒︎Bloke sat in his armchair shouts to his wife, “When I die, I’m going to leave everything to you, Love”
She shouts back, “You already do, you lazy b*stard!”

✒︎ My wife and I walked past a swanky new restaurant last night.

“Did you smell that food?” she asked. “Incredible!”

Being the nice guy I am, I thought, “What the heck, I’ll treat her!”

So we walked past it again.

✒︎”I was homeschooled, which meant that I had to bully myself.” – Dave Letterman

✒︎After a busy day commuters settled down on their train train trip home, when a chap hauled out his mobile and loudly started up:-

 “Hi darling it’s Peter, I’m on the train – yes, I
know it’s the 6.30 not the 4.30 but I had a long meeting – no, not with that floozie from the typing pool, with the boss no darling you’re the only one in my life – yes, I’m sure,
cross my heart” etc.

This was still going on after many minutes , when the young
 woman opposite, driven beyond endurance, yelled at the top of her voice,
 “Hey, Peter, turn that bloody phone off and come back to bed!”


✒︎”Italian authorities seized $6 trillion worth of fake, worthless U.S. Treasury bonds. Pretty 

good counterfeit job, too. They look just like the genuine worthless Treasury bonds.” 

Jay Leno


✒︎In a train compartment, there are three men and one ravishing young girl. 

The four passengers join in a conversation, which very soon turns to the erotic.

Then, the young girl proposes, “If each of you will give me $1, I will show you my legs.” The men, charmed by this young girl, 

all pull a buck out of their wallet. And then the girl
pulls up her dress a bit to show her legs.

Then she says, “If each of you gentlemen will give me $5, I’ll show you my thighs.” 

Men being what they are, they all pull out a five-dollar bill. The girl pulls up her dress all the
way to the top of her thighs..

Conversation continues, and the men, a bit excited, have all taken off their coats. 

Then the young girl says, “If you will give me $20, I will show you where I was operated on 

for an appendicitis.”

Naturally, all three fork over the money, and then the girl turns to the window and points to a hospital in the distance and says, “Right over there!”

✒︎A proctologist walked into a bank. Preparing to endorse a check, he pulled a rectal 

thermometer out of his shirt pocket and tried to write with it.

Realizing his mistake, he looked at the thermometer with annoyance and said, 

“Well that’s great, just great… but I think I know where my pen is.”



✒︎A secretary, out with appendicitis, was being visited by a co-worker in the hospital.

“How are things at the office going, Claudia?” she asked.

“Well, they’re all sharing your work. Jody is making the coffee, Louise is reading all your 

magazines, and Cathy is making it with the boss.”


✒︎On the way back from a Cub  Scout meeting, my grandson innocently said to my son, 

‘Dad, I know babies come from mommies’ tummies, but how do they get there in the first place?’

After my  son hemmed and hawed awhile,  my grandson finally spoke up in disgust,

 ‘You don’t have to make up something, Dad.  It’s okay if you don’t  know the answer.’


✒︎Three friends from the local congregation were asked, ‘When you’re in your casket, and 

friends and congregation members are mourning over you, what would you like them to say?

Artie said: ‘ I would like them to say I was a wonderful husband, a fine spiritual leader, and a great family man.’

Eugene commented: ‘I would like them to say I was a wonderful teacher and servant of God who made a huge difference in people’s lives.’

Al said: ‘I’d like them to say, ‘Look, he’s moving!’


✒︎”For sale,” read the ad in our hospital’s weekly newsletter, “sleeveless wedding gown, white, size 10, veil included. Worn once, by mistake.”

✒︎Staring at an empty cage, a zoo visitor asks, “Where are all the monkeys?”

“It’s mating season,” the keeper replies. “They’re inside.”

“Do you think they’d come out for peanuts?”

“Probably not,” answers the keeper.

“Why not?” persists the visitor.

“Would you?”



✒︎A court room in Oklahoma where a person is on trial for murder. there is strong evidence indicating guilt; however, there is no corpse. In the defense’s closing statement the lawyer,
knowing that his client is guilty and that it looks like he’ll probably be convicted, resorts to a clever trick.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have a surprise for you all” the lawyer says as he looks at his watch. “Within 1 minute, the person presumed dead in this case will walk into this
court room,” he says looks towards the courtroom door. The jury, somewhat stunned, all look eagerly. A minute passes. Nothing happens.

Finally the lawyer says “Actually I made up the previous statement. But you all looked in anticipation. I, therefore, put it to you that there is reasonable doubt in this case as to
whether anyone was killed and insist that you return a verdict of not guilty.” The jury, clearly confused, retires to deliberate. A few minutes later, the jury returns and a representative
pronounces a verdict of guilty.

“But how?” inquires the lawyer. “You must have some doubt; I saw all of you stare at the door.” Answers the representative: “Oh, we did look. But your client didn’t.”


✒︎”Police officers say that because of the economy, more thieves are stealing petrol from parked cars. Victims said they hadn’t felt that robbed since they put the petrol INTO their
car.” -Jimmy Fallon


✒︎A friend once complained to my sister about the difficulties contained in child rearing,  especially the lack of peace and quiet rest.
“What you need is a playpen to separate the kids from yourself,” my sister suggested.
So my sister’s friend bought a playpen. A few days later, my sister called to ask how things were going.
“Superb! I can’t believe it,” she replied. “I get in the pen with a good book and the kids don’t bother me one bit!”

✒︎Two overweight middle aged women are on their daily exercise stroll. They were talking about how hard it is to lose weight as one gets older, something with which all you youths must deal eventually.

One woman complained that she remained an ‘apple-shape’ and the other said that no matter how much she exercised, there was too much poundage on her backside and thighs. It almost seemed like it was there to stay.
Her buddy agreed, saying, “It’s true. The lard works in mysterious ways.”



Q: What’s black and white and makes a lot of noise?

A: A zebra with a drumkit.


Q: What did the dryer say to the washer?

A: Let’s go for a spin.


Q: Why do sharks live in salt water?

A: Because pepper makes them sneeze!


Q: What did the geometry teacher say when she lost her parrot?

A: Where’s my polygon?


Q. What do you call a Greek parachutist?

A. Con Descending.


Q: Why did the leper baseball pitcher retire?

A: He threw his arm out.


Q: What do you call a sleepwalking nun?

A: A Roaming Catholic.


Q: What is hairy and coughs?

A: A coconut with a cold.


Q: Why did the cowboy ride his horse?

A: Because it was too heavy to carry.

———————————————–

See you next week.

▫️ NEWS FROM ACROSS THE POND 🇺🇸

Some more gems from crazy USA

  ▫️  ADDITIONAL READS FOR TODAY

 📖 Billions in US weaponry seized by Taliban 

 📖 How you may see Jupiter and her moons tonight 

📖 What happens to your brain when you give up sugar

🏠

Posted in Health and fitness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

LM 24H – Setting up

Posted on August 19, 2021 by JJS

Taking the opportunity that the cars and drivers are taking part in the 3rd free practice session to set my viewing centre for the weekend.

https://videopress.com/v/eSA5L8qx?resizeToParent=true&preloadContent=metadata

Live video on the main screen, live timing and position board on the smaller screen.

Commentary courtesy of Radio Le Mans. I can confirm they still talk a fair amount of crap and the race is not started yet but a Le Mans weekend wouldn’t be the same without them.

The 3rd practice session is now over with the Alpine #36 taking the best time.

I am catching up with the different cars and am quite impressed with the new hypercar team Glickenhaus. The front of the car looks like the old Ferraris did. Glickenhaus Racing is making its WEC and Le Mans 24 Hours debut this year with its 007 LMH. The American manufacturer has chosen a French engine to power its hypercar prototype. Cock-a-doodle-doo! Pipo Moteurs has designed a V8 engine that has given complete satisfaction up to now. A great performance for the engine manufacturer who is also making his debut in endurance racing.

Tonight 9pm, the so-called hyperpole qualifying session will take place. Followed by another free practise session at 10pm.

I shall of course be watching.

Posted in Cars and bits | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Daily Post – August 19th

Posted on August 19, 2021 by JJS

Living through a pandemic

in the south of France

517 days in Carcassonne since

1st lockdown in March 2020

DAILY STATISTICS HERE

▫️ HOME’S NEWS DESK

✏️ Daily update

CONTAMINATIONS
On Wednesday 18 August, 28,405 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in 24 hours, according to figures from Santé publique France, bringing the total number of confirmed cases since the beginning of the epidemic to 6,533,383.

The positivity rate, which measures the number of positive cases in relation to the number of people tested, stands at 3.4%.

HOSPITALISATIONS
The number of Covid patients in hospital is now 10,336 (including 1,036 new admissions).

Hospitalisations in critical care units, which deal with the most serious cases, also continued to rise, with 2,054 patients, including 299 new admissions in 24 hours.

DEATHS
112 people have died of Covid-19 in hospitals in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths in France to 113,055, including 86,480 in hospital.

VACCINATION
To date, 46,928,614 people have received at least one injection, i.e. 69.6% of the total population, and 40,152,019 people have had a complete vaccination schedule, i.e. 59.6% of the total population.

✏️ Incidence rate

✏️ Covid: vaccine efficacy decreases over time with delta variant


According to a British study, Pfizer and AstraZeneca’s vaccines lose their effectiveness three months after the second dose. This is enough to tip the balance in favour of a third dose, which is already being considered by several countries.


The debate on the third dose may soon be over. According to a British study pre-published on Thursday, the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines would indeed see their effectiveness against the Delta variant decrease after 90 days.

The study, carried out jointly by Oxford University and the British Office for National Statistics (ONS), covers more than three million people vaccinated in the UK.

Efficacy still important


Two weeks after the second dose, Pfizer’s and AstraZeneca’s vaccines appear to be 85% and 68% effective against the Delta variant, but this protection would drop to 75% and 61% respectively after three months, the study found. The loss of efficacy would also be more pronounced in people over the age of 35.


However, the vaccines are still very effective against severe forms of the disease. “When you start at a very high level, you have a long way to go,” study leader Sarah Walker, a professor of medical statistics at Oxford University, told AFP. In any case, the drop in effectiveness raises doubts about the possibility of achieving herd immunity. According to the researchers, the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine could even fall to 68% after four and a half months. Nevertheless, “the higher levels of infection seen in vaccinated people are evidence that unvaccinated people are at even greater risk,” Sarah Walker told Bloomberg.

Further argument for the third dose


This reinforces the case for a booster dose, which has found increasing support in recent months. On Wednesday, the Israeli health insurance agency Maccabi published a study concluding that the third dose of vaccine in people over 60 was 86% effective against the Delta variant.

These results could therefore further tip the balance in its favour, despite opposition from the WHO. Israel was the first to launch a booster campaign at the end of July for people over 60. After authorising it for immunocompromised people, the United States will generalise the third dose in September. As for France, Emmanuel Macron has promised to organise a booster campaign “as early as September” for the elderly and immunocompromised people.

▫️ MUSIC

▫️ TRAVEL NEWS

Travel Page. has been updated with the latest information below:

19/08: New Caledonia‘s borders will remain closed at least until 31 December.
19/08 : Unvaccinated people must now undergo a 10-day quarantine to enter Tunisia, compared to 7 days previously.
19/08 : Croatia and Austria will apply a 9-month limit to the validity of vaccines for entry into their territory.


18/08 : France is now classified as a high risk country by the Netherlands. It is therefore necessary to present a PRC test less than 48 hours old, an antigen test less than 24 hours old, a vaccination certificate or a covid recovery certificate to enter the country.

▫️ FUN

▫️ NEWS FROM ACROSS THE POND 🇺🇸

Some more gems from crazy USA

  ▫️  ADDITIONAL READS FOR TODAY

 📖 What If You Could Become Invisible to Mosquitoes? 

 📖 Fossilised egg from prehistoric giant turtle reveals baby inside

📖 Scientists discover a ‘break’ in one of the Milky Way’s arms

Posted in Health and fitness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Buck Danny

Posted on August 18, 2021 by JJS

I received yesterday the latest comic book available in the new series.

I had an very enjoyable time reading it this afternoon till I realized it was the 1st part of 2 and I do not know when the second part will be available.

I have all 67 publications and namely:

📖 Hubinon – Charlier

✓ 1. Les Japs attaquent

✓ 2. Les Mystères de Midway

✓ 3. La Revanche des fils du ciel

✓ 4. Les tigres volants

✓ 5. Dans les griffes du dragon noir

✓ 6. Attaque en Birmanie

✓ 7. Les Trafiquants de la mer Rouge

✓ 8. Les pirates du desert

✓ 9. Les Gangsters du pétrole

✓ 10. Pilote d’essai

✓ 11. Ciel de Coree

✓ 12. Avions sans pilotes

✓ 13. Un avion n’est pas rentré

✓ 14. Patrouille a l’aube

✓ 15. NC 22654 ne répond plus

✓ 16. Menace au nord

✓ 17. Buck Danny contre Lady X

✓ 18. Alerte en Malaisie

✓ 19. Le tigre de Malaisie

✓ 20. S.O.S soucoupes volantes

✓ 21. Un prototype a disparu

✓ 22. Top secret

✓ 23. Mission vers la vallée perdu

✓ 24. Prototype FX 13

✓ 25. Escadrille ZZ

✓ 26. Le retour des tigres volants

✓ 27. Les tigres volants a la rescousse

✓ 28. Tigres volants contre pirates

✓ 29. Opération Mercury

✓ 30. Les voleurs de satellites

✓ 31. X-15

✓ 32. Alerte à Cap Kennedy

✓ 33. Le Mystère des avions fantômes

✓ 34. Alerte atomique

✓ 35. L’escadrille de la mort

✓ 36. Les Anges bleues

✓ 37. Le pilote au masque de cuir

✓ 38. La vallée de la mort verte

✓ 39. Requins en mer de Chine

✓ 40. Ghost Queen

📖 Bergèse – Charlier

✓ 41. Mission Apocalypse

✓ 42. Les pilotes de l’enfer

✓ 43. Le feu du ciel

✓ 44. Les agresseurs

📖 Bergèse – De Douhet

✓ 45. Les secrets de la mer Noire

📖 Bergèse

✓ 46. L’escadrille fantôme

✓ 47. Zone interdite

✓ 48. Tonnerre sur la cordillère

✓ 49. La nuit du serpent

✓ 50. Sabotage au Texas

✓ 51. Mystère en Antarctique

✓ 52.Porté disparu

📖 Wings –Zumbiehl

✓ 53. Cobra noir

📖 Formosa – Zumbiehl

✓ 54. La nuit du spectre

✓ 55. Defcon One

✓ 56. Vostok ne répond plus

✓ 57.. Operation Vektor

✓ 58. Le Pacte

📖 Bergèse – Charlier – Buendia – Zumbiehl – Série One Shot

✓ 1. Les oiseaux noirs 1/2

✓ 2. Les oiseaux noirs 2/2

📖 Arroyo – Zumbieh Série – Classic

✓ 1. Sabre sur la Corée

✓ 2. Duel sur MiG Alley

📖 Arroyo -Marniquet – Zumbiehl

Cycle “Mystères dans le Pacifique”

◦ 4. L’Ile du diable

✓ 3. Les fantômes du soleil levant

Cycle “Guerre froide”

✓ 5. Opération Rideau de fer

✓ 6. Alerte rouge

✓ 7. Sea Dart

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Short week in the Var region (draft)

Posted on August 18, 2021 by JJS

The news since yesterday regarding new and violent forest fires in the Var region are devastating. What makes it worse, is that we were there last week. It is not the first fire in the region and I have witnessed the ensuing devastation many times. It is heart breaking. Fortunately nature is very strong and with time does come back, sometimes must quicker than what we think.

French firefighters use a water hose to extinguish a fire in Gonfaron, in the French department of Var, southern France, on August 17, 2021. – Thousands of people, including tourists in campsites, have been evacuated as a wildfire raged near the plush resort of Saint-Tropez in southern France, the fire service said on August 17. Around 750 firefighters and water-droppping aircraft were battling the blaze in difficult conditions, with high temperatures and strong winds. (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP)

I intend to go back to the area next month when the tourist season is coming to a close.

Our escapade last week was fairly short but a fair amount was achieved.

Day 1 – Monday

We drove from Carcassonne to Hyeres taking the fastest route. It is only a 401 km ride along motorways through Narbonne, Montpellier, Nimes, Arles, Aix en Provence, Toulon. Basically the road follows the rim of the mediterranean with sometime spectacular views. In particular when approaching Toulon with the views of La Ciotat. In fact I would recommend not to take the motorway at this point but the secondary road. The view is even better.

(Map)

Day 2 – Tuesday

Day 3 – Wednesday

Day 4- Thursday

Day 5 – Friday

More to come shortly

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Daily Post – August 18th

Posted on August 18, 2021 by JJS

Living through a pandemic

in the south of France

516 days in Carcassonne since

1st lockdown in March 2020

DAILY STATISTICS HERE

▫️ HOME’S NEWS DESK

✏️ Daily update

CONTAMINATIONS
On Tuesday 17 August, 28,114 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in 24 hours, according to figures from Santé publique France, bringing the total number of confirmed cases since the beginning of the epidemic to 6,504,978.

The positivity rate, which measures the number of positive cases in relation to the number of people tested, stands at 3.4%.

HOSPITALIZATIONS
The number of Covid patients in hospital is now 10,219 (including 1,075 new admissions).

Hospitalisations in critical care units, which deal with the most serious cases, also continued to rise, with 1,953 patients, including 245 new admissions in 24 hours.

DEATHS
111 people have died of Covid-19 in hospitals in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths in France to 112,943, including 86,368 in hospital.

VACCINATION
To date, 46,714,974 people have received at least one injection, i.e. 69.3% of the total population, and 39,789,184 people have had a complete vaccination schedule, i.e. 58.9% of the total population.

✏️ Incidence rate

In the meantime the incidence rate in the Aude Departement has fallen down slightly under 400 for the past couple of days.

✏️ Health Pass

One week after the introduction of the health pass in bars and restaurants, professionals are still filling up. For the moment…

Some expected a disaster. Like in cinemas and some tourist places. But for the moment, in the restaurants of Carcassonne, the health pass effect is not obvious.

© L’Indépendant Driss Chaït – Translation © J2S

▫️ TAXES A new online service for property owners

All property owners can now access an overview of all their built properties located in France and their characteristics thanks to the tax administration’s new service “Manage my properties”. Eventually, this service will allow owners to make their declarations online to simplify their declarations.
To access all of your real estate assets, simply log on to your “Individual” or “Professional” space using your login and password on impots.gouv.fr. A “Manage my properties” tab displays 6 properties per page, indicating the type of property (garage, box, cellar, commercial premises, house, etc.), its surface area and its address. The “Consult” button allows you to obtain more information (tax number of the premises, co-ownership lot, rights on the property, etc.). It is also possible to download the list of properties in spreadsheet format.


This service will undergo some changes:

  • in autumn 2022: it will be possible to make property declarations online and to pay planning tax;
  • early January 2023: it will be possible to declare whether the property is a primary or secondary residence. If it is rented, it will be possible to declare the occupant of the residential premises or to collect from the owners, within the framework of the revision of rental values, the rents of the residential premises rented out.

▫️ BITS & PIECES

Many moons ago, I disabled my Facebook account as I am totally unhappy with their politics on one hand but in particular their safety and lack of privacy record. The account remains dormant / disabled so that you can still use your Facebook account to log in some other applications like Spotify etc

In the meantime I have also deleted these applications where for ease of use I had used Facebook to log in (Messenger, Spotify, etc).

I was therefore able to request the complete deletion of my account which is confirmed and will in theory start in 30 days. I say in theory because I do not trust Facebook to delete all the data.

▫️ TRAVEL NEWS

Travel Page. has been updated with the latest information below:

18/08: The Turks and Caicos Islands will only accept vaccinated travellers from 1 September.
18/08: Travellers may need a third injection of vaccine to enter the UK without quarantine.
17/08: Cambodia plans to reopen its borders to vaccinated travellers by the end of 2021.
17/08: Moldova no longer requires quarantine.
17/08: Peru now accepts antigen tests less than 24 hours old and no longer requires testing on arrival.
16/08: Unvaccinated people must now present a negative test to enter Spain, regardless of the region of France from which they arrive.
16/08: Thailand wants to implement a plan to allow tourists in Phuket to visit other tourist areas after 7 days instead of 14 days today.
16/08: Vaccinated people no longer need a PCR test to enter Cape Verde.
16/08: From 1 October, vaccinated travellers will have unrestricted access to Mauritius provided they produce a PCR test less than 72 hours old on arrival.
16/08: Romania now imposes a 10-14 day quarantine for unvaccinated persons.
16/08: Lithuania now imposes a 10-day quarantine for unvaccinated persons.
16/08 : Panama now requires a test even for vaccinated people.

▫️ FUN

▫️ SATIRE

▫️ NEWS FROM ACROSS THE POND 🇺🇸

Some more gems from crazy USA

  ▫️  ADDITIONAL READS FOR TODAY

 📖 Mutant ‘daddy shortlegs’ created in a lab 

 📖 Ripples in Saturn’s rings reveal planet’s ‘fuzzy’ core 

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Daily Post – August 17th

Posted on August 17, 2021 by JJS

Living through a pandemic

in the south of France

515 days in Carcassonne since

1st lockdown in March 2020

DAILY STATISTICS HERE

▫️ HOME’S NEWS DESK

✏️ Daily update on the epidemic in France, with figures from Santé Publique France and the Ministry of Health.

CONTAMINATIONS
On Monday 16 August, 5,829 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in 24 hours, according to figures from Santé Publique France, giving a total of 6,476,864 confirmed cases since the start of the epidemic.

The positivity rate, which measures the number of positive cases in relation to the number of people tested, stands at 3.5%.

HOSPITALISATIONS
The number of Covid patients in hospital is now 10,151 (including 950 new admissions).

Hospitalisations in critical care units, which deal with the most serious cases, also continued to increase, with 1,908 patients, including 178 new admissions in 24 hours.

DEATHS
97 people have died of Covid-19 in hospitals in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths in France to 112,798, including 86,257 in hospital.

VACCINATION
To date, 46,494,384 people have received at least one injection, i.e. nearly 69% of the total population, and 39,417,418 people have received a full vaccination schedule, i.e. nearly 58.5% of the total population.

▫️ TRAVEL NEWS

Travel Page. is up to date

▫️ FUN

▫️ MUSIC

I have been working on setting up playlists. Here is my current “My 60’s Music. Plenty more to come I am sure.

I am more than happy to share this playlist on Deezer. Just send me a message.

▫️ FOOD & DRINKS

Here is a very nice book I was given a few days when purchasing rosé wine and bits in Ramatuelle (Var). Mainly pictures and stories but also some interesting recipes. It is in French 🇫🇷 but the pics help.

I have just found the same book on line in a PDF format. Here is the link.

▫️ NEWS FROM ACROSS THE POND 🇺🇸

Some more gems from crazy USA

  ▫️  ADDITIONAL READS FOR TODAY

 📖 49 million-year-old beetle looks like it was squashed yesterday

📖 Animals Can Count and Use Zero. How Far Does Their Number Sense Go?

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Daily Post – August 16th

Posted on August 16, 2021 by JJS

Living through a pandemic

in the south of France

514 days in Carcassonne since

1st lockdown in March 2020

DAILY STATISTICS HERE

▫️ HOME’S NEWS DESK

✏️ Regional update

The situation in hospitals remains very worrying in our two departments. The increase is also marked at the regional level this Sunday.

Pyrenees Orientales

The hospitalisations jumped this Sunday August 15 in Perpignan where 136 people are hospitalised for Covid-19 (+5 in 24h) including 23 in intensive care (+1) and 70 in conventional hospitalisation (+6).
The department deplores one more death this Sunday evening bringing the total to 357 victims of Covid since the beginning of the epidemic.

This 15 August is also marked by a continuous fall in the incidence rate in the department with 424 positive cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The peak of the 4th wave seems to have been reached on 25 July with 637 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Aude

In Aude, 88 people were hospitalised on Sunday (+6 in 24 hours) including 11 in intensive care (+1) and 66 in conventional hospital (+5).
One person died on Sunday, bringing the number of victims of the epidemic in the Aude to 375.

Occitanie

In Occitanie, 1148 people are hospitalised (+43 in 24 hours) including 274 in intensive care (+1) and 639 in conventional hospitalisation (+40).

4,752 inhabitants of Occitanie have died from Covid, including 11 this Sunday.

✏️ France update (Sunday Aug 15th)

Faced with the fourth wave of the Delta variant, the number of hospitalised patients continues to rise. Here is an update with figures from Santé Publique France and the Ministry of Health.

CONTAMINATIONS
This Sunday 15 August, 21,172 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in 24 hours, according to figures from Santé Publique France, giving a total of 6,471,035 confirmed cases since the start of the epidemic.

The positivity rate, which measures the number of positive cases in relation to the number of people tested, stands at 3.7%.

HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS
The number of Covid patients in hospital is now 9,768 (including 399 new admissions), compared to 9,648 on Saturday and 9,546 on Friday.

Hospitalizations in critical care units, which take care of the most serious cases, also continued to rise, with 1,852 patients (1,837 on Saturday, 1,831 on Friday), including 73 in 24 hours.

DEATHS
44 people have died of Covid-19 in hospitals in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths in this epidemic in France to 112,702, of which 86,161 were in hospital.

VACCINATION
As of Friday 13 August, 46,109,683 people had received at least one injection, i.e. nearly 68.4% of the total population, and 38,800,712 people had a complete vaccination schedule, i.e. nearly 57.5% of the total population. 68.2% of the adult population is fully vaccinated.

✏️ Health pass

As of today, the trial week is over and the health pass becomes law. Here is a graphic view (in easy French) where you need or do not need to show the pass to be able to access these locations:

I shall personally refuse to go to places who are not complying with the law

▫️ TRAVEL NEWS

Travel Page. is up to date

▫️ FOOD & DRINKS

There is an excellent fishmonger called “La Halle aux Poissons” in Cavalaire (Var) where we were last week.

My family has been going there on a regular basis for years. They are supplied mostly from the local fishermen on a daily basis.

Of course being fresh product, you never know what will be available. You can try to order something specific but there is no guarantee it will be available. Last week we purchased in the morning this 1,8kg Dorade Royale (Sea bream?) to cook for lunch.

My mother’s old recipe was used:

– The fish should be on fennel sticks which are collected in fields now and then when they are in season.

– Some oil to be spread over the fish. Not olive oil… but “huile d’arachide” (Groundnut oil?)

– A splash of pastis. We used my favorite Casanis.

– Hot oven 220º C

– Cook for, in this case, 34 minutes

The result is out of this world

Simple but excellent

The same recipe applies to many Mediterranean fishes like Rougets (my favorites). It is also a fantastic way to cook fresh crayfish (langoustes) which must be cut in half before going into the cooking dish.

Back in Carcassone, I am not sure we have the right fishmongers who would have such quality fish. In any case I have not come across one yet. It will be further investigated in the coming days.

Did I mention that this fish cost me some 104 Euros.

Not the cheapest for 4 people but well worth it.

  ▫️ FUN

▫️ NEWS FROM ACROSS THE POND 🇺🇸

Some more gems from crazy USA

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Reunion – The 1968 Gang

Posted on August 15, 2021 by JJS

It was harder to plan compared to other years, indeed it had to be postponed a few times thanks to Covid-19 but we made it to the originally planned location in Brittany.

June 8th to 12th 2021

To be more specific, we went to this wonderful place called “Le Golf du Morbihan”. In the local Breton language, Morbihan means “the small sea”. Within this gulf, there are countless islands and islets. It is estimated that there are 30 to 40.

An ideal location for our Gang of 1968 “La Bande” reunion. Most of us made it and since we all live in different parts of France each made their own way.

Day 1

As far as we were concerned, we picked up my friend Philipe from Carcassonne’s train station at 9:30am and we left straight away. We had planned an overnight stop and had reserved hotel rooms in La Rochelle.

The drive there was smooth and felt quick fast despite the 5 hours needed (which included a fairly short lunch break just after Bordeaux).

Brilliant sunshine in La Rochelle, many people out. The Ibis hotel was located right in the middle of town by the port. Extremely convenient. Quick check-in and out we go for a couple of well deserved drinks.

Having been to La Rochelle myself not so long ago, I could lead for the ensuing short walk around town.

I discovered this wonderful comic books shop. I certainly wish I had one like that back home in Carcassonne. Reminded me I need to catch up on my Buck Danny collection. I obviously am missing the latest publication.

Found a great place at the port, less than 100 meters from the hotel, for a well deserved aperitif in a place called ” Terrasse de la Chaine“

On the way there we had reserved for dinner in one of the many restaurants around the port and in town. In this case we only had to cross the road to get to the “Bistrot des Pêcheurs“. We had a pleasant enough sea food fare.

Early to bed for the simple fact that the Covid-19 related curfew was in operation and we could not even get a night cap in the hotel which was closing its doors when we made our way back to it. The Ibis chain of hotels which belongs to the Accord Hotels Group (known as All) has certainly improved over the past few years. Many of the hotels have been revamped and for the low price are extremely comfortable and convenient. The interior decoration of the one we were staying it had a nice twist as it represented train tracks and containers. Certainly a novel idea. Not sure I would cope with it if I had a longer stay though.

Day 2

Up bright and fairly early, we set off after breakfast towards Brittany.

Another pleasant enough car journey which somehow felt a little bit longer than the previous day although it was 2 hours shorter. Probably because there were less motorways to be used. We decide it is a little too early to go to our friends’ house so we end up in the next town of Vannes for a bit of lunch.

Brilliant weather in the area which can be quite unusual unlike what is said by the locals

We decide it is a little too early to go to our friends’ house where we were expected so we ended up in the next town of Vannes for a bit of lunch. Vannes is a beautiful little town with a lot of medieval houses and must be on a bucket list of places to visit.

Instead of going for, as one would have expected, a local sea-food platter I was tempted by one of my favorite dish. The famous Andouillette. I have yet to meet someone not originally from France who likes those. I can assure you that this one was excellent and did the trick.

Early afternoon with a full tummy we made our way to Le Tour du Parc where our friends P&J live by the sea and where we were all expected.

We do not see each other very often and certainly not in this group but we keep in touch regularly and some visit others on a regular basis. Nevertheless we had a fair amount to catch up with. Covid-19 was of course a major topic since a few had experienced it and in one case with very serious consequences. But in the end, everybody had recovered and although the conversations were concentrating a fair amount on illnesses (too much for my liking – is it a sign of getting old?) we did have a lot of other news and memories to catch up with.

But enough talking and time to go for a walk together with the 2 dogs along the seafront.

Day 3

The plan is to go to the well known “Île aux Moines” which is a perl in one of the most beautiful bay France can offer. So mid-morning we leave and drive to Port Navalo where we have to catch the ferry which will take us there.

There is of course some time available for a short walk around and a coffee at the port waiting for the boat.

The view is spectacular in particular seing the effect of the extremely powerful tidal current called “Le Courant de la Jument”. it is said to be the second strongest current in Europe.

Between Port-Navalo and Locmariaquer is the gateway to the Gulf of Morbihan. The mouth of the gulf opens onto an inland sea of 115 km2 dotted with some forty islands and islets. The sea enters and exits a narrow passage 900 m wide: the Port-Navalo Narrows. Boats that enter this passage must beware of the tidal current, which can reach speeds of almost 9 knots, or more than 4 metres per second.


The ride on the boat takes about an hour thanks to the skill of the captain and crew who know where to avoid or where to use the current. QUITE IMPRESSIVE.

Of course by the time we arrive on the island it is time for lunch and a few hundred metres from the port is a very pleasant restaurant.

The it is time for a walk around the island

It was quite a long walk but well worth it. Apart from the old houses and buildings, the sea views and the beaches are something else. If only the weather could be guaranteed!!!

P&J had organised a visit the their nearest oyster parc and an extremely interesting presentation and explanation by the owner. Of course it culminated by an oyster and other shellfish tasting later in the evening. The place was a few hundred meters away and we walked there. Philippe had brought his roller with him so some had to try it on the way. All in all an excellent evening to end up the day.

Day 4

The plan for the day is to drive to Vannes for lunch and a tour of the town. On the way there some stop at a local market or a local specialities shop.

When in Brittany you cannot not go and sample sea-food nor can you avoid pancakes / crêpes. And it is in the latter that we end up for lunch

J&P had organised a tour of the old town and remparts. For this we met a professional guide who led us and told us a lot about the history of the place.

Time to go home with a quick stop en route at a fishmonger to pick up the pre-ordered mussels which were on the evening menu.

Before the obligatory aperitif and dinner, some feel the need to jump in the pool after it has been opened of course.

Day 5

Time to say goodbye

We had decided to do an overnight stop in Bordeaux on the way back home. The hotel was easy enough to find and very well located in the town centre which meant we could and explore on foot. It was easy enough to find a very pleasant bar for a couple of pre-dinner drinks.

We had dinner a few hundred metres away at on of the Ragazzi Da Peppone restaurants. The food s usual was fresh, good and typical Italian. Unfortunately it was not possible to go to the cellar and choose our own wine bottle which is quite an adventure in itself. Indeed they had experienced not long before some flood and had to close for safety reason the access to the general public. Not to worry, we nevertheless got the bottle of wine I was looking for.

Day 6

From Bordeaux to Carcassonne it is a 3 hours drive on motorways. I forgot to mention that this was the 1st trip with our brand new car and that it performed perfectly. A pleasure to drive.

Excellent few days away

The question is: whee do we meet next?

I have my own idea…

43°27′34″ North – 3°25′25″ East

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