✏️ Vaccination, despite the reported Anti-Vax demonstration, is still going strong and on target. As of August 13th, 46.109.683 persons had a first injection which translates to 68,4% of the population. 38.800.712 had a second shot which represents 57,5% of the population.
68,2% of adults are completely vaccinated
✏️ Incidence rate in the region is still very high
✏️ It should be less hot from Monday
After several days of hot weather since Thursday, it will be again the case this Sunday, August 15th, to welcome the holiday makers. Especially in Ardèche, Drôme, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Var and Alpes-Maritimes, still under orange vigilance. Where temperatures will fluctuate between 35 and 38 degrees, with peaks of 40 or even higher.
The Aude and the Pyrénées-Orientales are still under yellow heatwave alert.
The last straight line before temperatures are still high but more bearable from Monday, according to the forecast of Meteo France.
✏️ Found a new simple gadget to keep my bottles rested
▫️SATIRE
▫️FUN
To fight the heat, the firemen in Marseille have decided to help. I hope they are using the recommended dosage (1:5).
After a first part of the summer where temperatures were seasonal or even lower, the thermometer is now soaring, with temperatures reaching over 40° in places in the south. The most important thing to do is stay hydrated. Because when it’s very hot, you need to drink more, to compensate for the water you lose through sweating. However, you should not drink too much either.
The right solution? Drink a little more water than usual and compensate by eating foods that contain a lot of water. Here is the list of the most hydrating foods:
✒︎ Made it back, as planned, from Cavalaire yesterday.
The roads were quite busy and we decided to leave the motorway approaching Marseille and cross the Camargue area via secondary roads all the way to Montpellier where we rejoined the motorway.
✒︎ The number of people hospitalised continues to rise this Friday in the Aude, which has recorded a third death this week.
According to data from Santé publique France, in the Aude region, 83 people were hospitalised on Friday evening (+4 in 24 hours, +12 in two days), including 10 in intensive care (-1). 62 are in conventional hospitalisation (+5), 10 in follow-up or long-term care (stable number) and 1 in other structures. An additional death is to be deplored this Friday. The coronavirus has caused the death of 374 people in the Aude since the beginning of the pandemic.
The incidence rate has fallen to 427.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the rolling week from 4 to 10 August (published on 13 August). It was 437.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the sliding week from 3 to 9 August.
Two more patients in intensive care in the Pyrénées-Orientales This Friday evening, in the Pyrenees-Orientales, 134 people are hospitalised because of Covid-19 (as many as on Thursday). Among them, 22 are in intensive care (+2), 69 in conventional hospitalisation (-3), 32 in follow-up or long-term care (+2) and 11 in other structures (-1). The department did not record any additional deaths on Friday. In the Pyrénées-Orientales, 353 people have died in hospital because of Covid-19 since the beginning of the epidemic.
The incidence rate is almost stable in the department this Friday. In the sliding week from 4 to 10 August, it is 451.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 450.9 per 100,000 in the sliding week from 3 to 9 August.
▫️PLACES TO DISCOVER
Summer holidays in Occitanie: 5 unforgettable wild swimming spots When it comes to swimming, are you more interested in peaceful rivers, pools between two rocks or creeks by the sea? Here are 5 unforgettable ones.
In a river in the Dordogne In the Lot department, you can swim in several rivers such as the Célé, the Lot of course, but also the Dordogne at Montvalent for example. The river is not too well developed and therefore reasonably busy, with easy access to the banks covered in soft grass where you can put your towel down in the shade of tall trees. The water is relatively peaceful and its temperature is around 23 degrees in summer according to regulars from the nearby guinguette “Le Vieux Chêne”.
In the Mediterranean Sea On the sea side, the one to recommend is the Ouille beach which is made up of small pebbles but which do not hurt your feet… It is located along the coastal path between Argelès-sur-Mer and Collioure in the Pyrénées-Orientales. It is mostly frequented by the inhabitants of the surrounding area or by the clients of the neighbouring campsites. It extends over 100 metres below the cliffs of the Vermeille coast.
Gorges and basins in the Cévennes From its source on the south-eastern flanks of the Massif Central, the Gard is known as the Gardon. Its two small rivers, the Gardon de Saint-Jean and the Gardon de Mialet, flow through small gorges. They offer opportunities to jump from large rocks into clear waters. As for the beach, it’s paradise in the Cévennes: whirlpool baths in small basins or relaxation on flat pebble beaches along large stretches of water where you can try your hand at swimming.
Among the most beautiful are the natural pools at the foot of the Martinet waterfall. Access is on foot from the car park of the Martinet restaurant before the village of Saint-Étienne-Vallée-Française. Follow the irrigation canal (le béal) for 10 minutes to the waterfall. Be careful, the access is quite steep.
In the Artigue stream in Ariège The Artigue stream in the Ariège is a favourite with canyoning enthusiasts. It cascades down its bed in short waterfalls and slides along the welcoming banks to cool off in the heat of summer. If you like clear, brisk and cool water, this is the place for you. The walk from the L’Artigue car park (above Villahge de Marc) takes you along the stream with possible stops for a dip. After 45 minutes of quiet walking under the trees, a pretty pool at the foot of a waterfall is waiting for you. It’s up to you to test or not this beautiful translucent water of emerald green colour…
In the Cèze downstream from the Sautadet waterfalls The Sautadet waterfalls are a great opportunity to take in the sights and then head a little further downstream for a swim in the Cèze. First of all, you can’t miss this series of spectacular waterfalls: the bubbling river rushes through cavities dug in the limestone, forming water holes, pots and cauldrons. Please note that swimming in the waterfalls is strictly forbidden as it is very dangerous. The force of the currents and the whirlpools regularly cause accidents, sometimes fatal, to unwary bathers.On the other hand, if you go a little further downstream, you will find beautiful beaches where swimming is not dangerous.
To access the waterfalls, the most practical way is to park at the foot of the Charles Martel bridge at La Roque-sur-Cèze in the Gard.
Wednesday is Market day in Cavalaire and I almost always visit it if I happen to be in town. It is quite different from the stalls in Carcassonne. In addition to the food there is also a very large section of clothes and local / Provence materials.
▫️ MUSIC
Did not have much time to listen to music those past few days
▫️THE FABULOUS FRIDAY (FUNNIES) GROANS from Paul
Greetings one and all
✒︎Asked my doctor today how long he thought this Covid thing would last: He answered, “How should I know, I’m a doctor not a politician.
✒︎ One evening, during a bout of bad weather, a mother was tucking her small boy into bed. She was about to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, “Mommy, will you sleep in my bed tonight?” The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. “I can’t, dear,” she said,”I have to sleep in the large bed, with Daddy.” A long silence was broken at last by a shaken little voice saying, “The big wimp.”
✒︎ The ethical question
Upon seeing an elderly lady for the drafting of her will, the attorney charged her $100. She gave him a $100 note, not noticing that it was stuck to another $100 note. On seeing the two notes stuck together, the ethical question came to the attorney’s mind:
“Do I tell my partner?”
✒︎ Two men went bear hunting.
While one stayed in the cabin, the other went looking for a grizzly. He soon found one. Taking aim, he fired his rifle, nicking the bear. Enraged, it charged the hunter, chasing him back to the cabin. As the hunter reached the open cabin door, he slipped and fell. the bear tripped over him and rolled into the cabin. The man leapt up, slammed the cabin door shut and yelled to his friend inside, “You skin this one while I go and get another.”
✒︎ A selection ………………
▫︎ A friend’s sister worked as a census collector many decades ago. She helped newly arrived immigrants to fill out the form. One had answered the question ‘Length of residence in Australia?’ with ‘35 feet, including verandas’ .’’
▫︎ ‘‘ While essential shopping yesterday, I was intrigued by two large signs in the window of a very colourful variety store, one of which read: ‘STAY POSITIVE’. I’m sure they meant ‘STAY WELL.
▫︎ ‘‘ A baggage handler at Sydney International Terminal assures me that case numbers are right down.’’
▫︎ You know you’re in strict lockdown when … ‘‘ you start talking about the good old days … back in 2019.
▫︎‘‘ Getting carried away by the Olympics, yesterday I clocked a personal best by pinging a QR code from 1.7 metres,’’ says my neighbour.
✒︎ A mother was anxiously awaiting the arrival of her daughter’s plane. Her daughter was returning from abroad, where she’d enjoyed months of adventure during a ‘gap year’. As the daughter exited the plane and walked out to the arrivals lounge, her mother noticed a man directly behind her dressed in feathers, with exotic markings all over his body and carrying a shrunken head. The daughter introduced the man as her new husband. The mother gasped in disbelief. “I said for you to marry a rich doctor … A rich doctor!”
✒︎ Husband: Sweetheart, would you say that I’m the only man you’ve ever loved? Wife: Of course you are! Why do all men ask me the same silly question?
✒︎ Rupert and Elaine, a young couple, got married and went happily on their honeymoon. When they got back, Elaine immediately telephoned her mother, who asked how the honeymoon was.“Oh, Ma,” Elaine replied. “The honeymoon was wonderful. It was so romantic.” Then she burst out crying. “But, Ma, as soon as we returned home, Rupert started using the ghastliest language… saying things I’ve never heard before! I mean, these awful four letter words! You’ve got to come get me and take me home. I can’t be in a marriage like this! Please Ma!” Elaine begged. “Calm down, Elaine!” said her mother. “Tell me, what could be so awful? What four-letter words?” Still sobbing, Elaine whispered, “Oh Ma, words like ‘dust’, ‘wash’, ‘cook’ and ‘iron’.”
✒︎A man is sitting in a fancy restaurant when his food finally arrives at his table. As the plate is being served the man notices the waiter has his thumb resting on the edge of his steak. “Umm, excuse me,” the man says, “but I couldn’t help but notice you had your thumb on my steak.” “Yes, I know, sir,” the waiter responds, “but I didn’t want to drop it again.”
✒︎ The one about ‘thrown’ rice reminds me of the story of Dave and Mabel, who had been ‘going steady’ for 30 years, when Mabel one day said “Don’t you think it’s about time we got married?” Dave thought for a while, and said “You’re probably right.
But who would have us, at our age?”
✒︎ While watching a movie recently, I couldn’t hear the dialogue over the chatter of the two women sitting in front of me. Unable to bear it any longer, I tapped one of them on the shoulder. “Excuse me,” I said, “I can’t hear.” “I should hope not,” she replied sharply. “This is a private conversation.”
✒︎An Australian, an Irishman and an Englishman were sitting in a bar.
There was only one other person in the bar. It was a man. The three men kept looking at this other man, for he seemed terribly familiar. They stared and stared, wondering where they had seen him before, when suddenly the Irishman cried out ‘My God, I know who that man is. It’s Jesus!’
The others looked again and, sure enough, it was Jesus himself, sitting alone at a table. The Irishman calls out, ‘Hey! You!!! Are you Jesus?’ The man looks over at him, smiles a small smile and nods his head. ‘Yes, I am Jesus’ he says.
The Irishman calls the bartender over and says to him ‘I’d like you to give Jesus over there a pint of Guinness from me.’ So the bartender pours Jesus a Guinness and takes it over to his table. Jesus looks over, raises his glass, smiles thank you and drinks.
The Englishman then calls out, ‘Errr, excuse me Sir but would you be Jesus?’ Jesus smiles and says, ‘Yes, I am Jesus.’ The Englishman beckons the bartender and tells him to send over a Pint of Newcastle Brown Ale for Jesus. This the bartender duly does. As before, Jesus accepts the drink and smiles over at the men.
Then the Australian calls out, ‘Oi, you! D’ya reckon you’re Jesus, or what?’ Jesus nods and says, ‘Yes, I am Jesus.’ The Australian is mighty impressed and has the bartender send over Schooner of Victoria Bitter for Jesus, this he accepts with pleasure.
Some time later, after finishing the drinks, Jesus leaves his seat and approaches the three men He reaches for the hand of the Irishman and shakes it, thanking him for the Guinness.
When he lets go, the Irishman gives a cry of amazement ‘Oh God, the arthritis is gone,’ he says. ‘The arthritis I’ve had for years is gone. It’s a miracle!’
Jesus then shakes the hand of the Englishman, thanking him for the Newcastle Brown Ale. Upon letting go, the Englishman’s eyes widen in shock. ‘By Jove’, he exclaims, ‘The migraine I’ve had for over 40 years is completely gone. It’s a Miracle!’
Jesus then approaches the Australian, who has a terrified look on his face. The Aussie whispers. P*ss off mate, I’m on Workers Comp’
✒︎ Bob: Want to hear a joke about the letter with no stamp?
Frank: Sure.
Bob: Oh, never mind. You’d never get it!
✒︎ A man was getting a haircut prior to a trip to Rome. He mentioned the trip to the barber who responded, “Rome? Why would anyone want to go there? It’s crowded and dirty. You’re crazy to go to Rome. So, how are you getting there?” “We’re taking American Airlines,” was the reply. “We got a great rate!” “American Airlines?” exclaimed the barber. “That’s a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly, and they’re always late. So, where are you staying in Rome?” “We’ll be at the downtown International Marriott.””That dump! That’s the worst hotel in the city. The rooms are small, the service is surly and they’re overpriced. So, whatcha doing when you get there?” “We’re going to go to see the Vatican and we hope to see the Pope.” “That’s rich,” laughed the barber. “You and a million other people trying to see him. You’ll be at the back of St Peter’s Square and from that distance he’ll look the size of an ant. Boy, good luck on this lousy trip of yours. You’re going to need it.” A month later, the man again came in for his regular haircut. The barber asked him about his trip to Rome. “It was wonderful,” explained the man. “Not only were we on time in one of American Airlines’s brand new planes, but it was overbooked and they bumped us up to first class. The food and wine were wonderful, and I had a beautiful 28 year old stewardess who waited on me hand and foot. And the hotel was great! They’d just finished a $25 million remodelling job and now it’s the finest hotel in the city. They, too, were overbooked, so they apologised and gave us the presidential suite at no extra charge!””Well,” muttered the barber, “I know you didn’t get to see the Pope.” “Actually, we were quite lucky, for as we toured the Vatican, a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder and explained that the pope likes to personally meet some of the visitors, and if I’d be so kind as to step into his private room and wait, the pope would personally greet me. Sure enough, five minutes later the pope walked through the door and shook my hand! I knelt down as he spoke a few words to me.” “Really?” asked the Barber. “What’d he say?”He said, “Where’d you get the shitty haircut?”
✏️ALERT – The ARS in Occitanie launched on Saturday an “emergency appeal to the population” to slow down the epidemic of covid as new hospitalisations have multiplied by more than ten in less than a month. The fourth wave is sweeping through hospitals. Inexorably, the increase in infections has been accompanied by new hospitalisations due to Covid-19. This is particularly the case in Occitanie, where they have become particularly alarming. These have multiplied by more than ten in less than a month, warned this Saturday 31 July the Regional Health Agency (ARS), which is launching an “emergency appeal to the population” in order to “slow down the pace of the epidemic”. All the lights are on red On the map, the region is coloured scarlet. The incidence rate has reached almost 420 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, an increase of 41% in one week. This alarming figure represents “more than eight times the alert threshold”, the agency said in a statement on the day a pharmacist was targeted by opponents of the health pass in Montpellier while carrying out screening tests. The most affected departments are Hérault and Pyrénées-Orientales, where the incidence rate is around 600. “All age groups are concerned” – the incidence rate being “unprecedented” for 20-30 year olds – “with a very significant impact on the health system”, the agency warned. In fact, these contaminations are now weighing on health institutions. New hospitalisations have risen from 30 at the end of June to more than 300 this week, according to ARS figures. Admissions to critical care and intensive care units have also exploded, rising from less than 10 to more than 90 over the same period, the statement said. “The proportion of Covid patients in intensive care now exceeds 21%, while our region, which is highly touristic, has a very high level of non-Covid activity in intensive care,” commented the ARS. Occitanie currently has just over 1600 intensive care and critical care beds.
Felicia Sideris
Updated August 1st
✏️The balance of the epidemic in the Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales on Sunday according to figures from Santé publique France.
There had not been a death caused by Covid-19 since 28 June in the Aude. This Sunday 1 August, a patient hospitalised in the department lost his life. The coronavirus has caused the death of 369 people in Aude since the beginning of the pandemic.
The number of people hospitalised remains stable compared to Saturday (53): 35 in conventional hospital (-2), 9 in intensive care (+2), 8 in follow-up care or long-term care and 1 in other structures. In the Aude, this Sunday, the incidence rate (474.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) is almost stable compared to Saturday (476).
Pyrénées-Orientales: the incidence rate is below 600 In the Pyrenees-Orientales, the number of patients hospitalised because of Covid-19 continues to rise. This Sunday, it amounts to 94 (+3 in 24 hours): 50 in conventional hospitalisation (+3), 13 in intensive care (the same number as Saturday), 23 in follow-up or long-term care (as many as Saturday) and 8 in other structures (stable figure). 1 additional death is to be reported in the Pyrénées-Orientales this Sunday. The department counts 336 victims of Covid since the beginning of the epidemic.
Although it remains at a very high level (581 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), the incidence rate in the Pyrénées-Orientales has fallen below 600 for the first time since Sunday 25 July. A downward trend is confirmed as the rate decreases for the fourth consecutive day.
✏️ Motor Sport
I do not follow motor sport too much apart from the endurance racing championship (WEC) and mostly the Le Mans 24 hours which I attend regularly. I did not last year because it was postponed and spectators were not permitted. This year it is postponed again from the usual middle of June date to August 22nd. I had no intention of going but I am getting a little bit itchy. It will be a last minute decision I think. What brought his on you might ask, well Peugeot introduced their new so-called Hypercar for their return to the championship next year. For us followers, it is an absolute beauty. I have posted a picture and video on my Le Mans 24h blog. The other incentive is yesterday‘s win by an Alpine (French car) with a French driver at the wheel in the F1 Hungarian Grand Prix which I admit I did not watch live. The team Alpine has an endurance car which I have been supporting the past few years.
I simply do not know where July went. Mind you taking into account I spent one week hospitalised and had visitors for another 12 days, there was little time left for myself.
Global Events in August
1. Clergy Sexual Abuse Awareness Day- 1 August
Clergy Sexual Abuse is a common problem in the faith community across the world. The idea is to discourage sexual abuse and highlight its negative impact on human life. It’s a campaign to educate and aware. The first campaign was launched in 2011.
2. World Breast Feeding Week – 1 August
Innocenti Declaration came into being in August 1990. It supports and protects breastfeeding. The first celebration took place in 1992 by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action. American Academy of Pediatrics and WHO organises this week every year.
3. National Mountain Climbing Day – 1 August
Bobby Matthews and Josh Madigan successfully climbed the 46 High Peaks of New Your State’s Adirondack Mountains. This incident took place on 1 August 2015. Bob Matthews took the initiative to start this day in 2016. The idea is to promote mountain climbing as an adventurous activity.
4. Yorkshire Day – 1 August
The Battle of Minden took place on 1 August 1759. It was part of the seven-year war between the Anglo-German army and France. 1 August marks the anniversary of this event.
This is to appreciate and celebrate Yorkshire, the largest county of the UK. The idea is to promote its culture. The Yorkshire society took the initiative to start this day in 1975.
5. International Beer Day – 2nd August (First Friday of August) 🍻
Jesse Avshalomov took the initiative to start this day in 2007. The first celebration took place at a local California bar. Till 2012, the celebration took place on 5 August. The idea is to step out and have a beer with loved ones.
6. U.S. Coast Guard Day – 4 August
United States Coast Guard came into being on 4 August 1790 as Revenue Marine. This day commemorates this establishment. In 1915, Revenue marine and US life-saving service became one body. It is also to highlight the service of these coast guards.
7. Hiroshima Day – 6 August
The first nuclear bombing took place on 6 August 1945 in Hiroshima. The name of the bomb was “little boy”. This was by the United States by the permission of the United Kingdom. The Quebec Agreement was a secret deal between the USA and the UK for the development of nuclear energy.
8. Nagasaki Day – 9 August
The second nuclear bombing by the USA was on 9 August 1945 in Nagasaki. The name of the bomb was “Fat Man”. This was the end of World War 2. Around 74,000 died in this bombing.
Japan surrendered 6 days after this bombing. This day commemorates the people who lost their lives on this day.
9. International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples – 9 August
The Working Group on Indigenous Populations’ first meeting took place on 9 August 1982. The UN General Assembly made this day official in1994. The idea is to protect the rights of the indigenous ( the natives ) people.
It is to highlight their achievement and contributions to global issues. 2019 was the International year of indigenous languages.
10. International Youth Day – 12 August & Carole’s birthday
The UN GeneralAssembly made this day official in 1999. The idea is to celebrate the role of youth in changing the world. They aim to highlight the challenges and problems that the youth is facing today. The theme for 2020 is “Transforming Education”.
11. World Elephant Day – 12 August
Elephant Reintroduction Foundation, Thailand took the initiative to start this day in 2012. Patricia Sims is also one of the founders. The idea is to highlight solutions for better care of captive and wild elephants.
African and Asian elephants have become vulnerable. They aim to discourage poaching, human-elephant conflict, mistreatment in captivity, and habitat loss.
12. International Lefthanders Day – 13 August
Dean R. Campbell was the founder of Lefthander International INc. he was the first one to celebrate this day. The idea is to appreciate the uniqueness of left-handers. And also the issues/problems they face.
13. Youm-e-Azadi (Pakistan Independence Day) – 14 August
In 1947, Pakistan became a sovereign state after the end of the British Raj. The aim of the Pakistan movement was the creation of an independent Muslim state. All India Muslim league led this movement under Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The Indian independence act 1947 gave birth to the different states of Pakistan. In the Islamic calendar, Ramadan falls on the same date.
14. National Day of mourning (Bangladesh) – 15 August
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the first president of Bangladesh. He was assassinated on 15 August 1975 with his 16 family members. This day is to honor him and his contribution to the country.
15. Victory over Japan Day – 15 August
This day marks the defeat of Japan in World War II, this took place on 15 August 1945, 6 days after Nagasaki Bombing. This day marks the end of WWII.
The celebration takes place in Australia, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Korea, South Korea, and the United Kingdom in August. The USA celebrates this victory in September.
16. Day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary – 15 August
Mary was Jesus’s mother. The Catholic Church believes that that mother Mary begun her afterlife journey in heaven on 15 August ( 1516 – 1518 ). This day is holy for the catholic community. The celebration is usually in the form of a feast.
17. Bennington Battle Day – 16 August
Battle of Bennington was part of the American Revolutionary War. It took place on 16 August 1777 in Bennington, Vermont between the British and American forces.
It was a turning point in the revolutionary war as Americans won. This day commemorates the American victory over the Britishers. It’s a public holiday in Vermont.
18. Indonesian Independence Day – 17 August
Indonesia’s Proclamation of Independence took place on 17 August 1945. President Sukarno read the declaration in Jakarta. This day commemorates the independence of the country. The theme for 2020 is “Indonesia Maju (Indonesia Advances)”.
19. World Photography Day – 19 August
The discovery of Daguerreotype, a photographic process was by Frenchmen Lois Daguerre and Joseph Nicephore Niepce. This discovery was made official on 19 August 1837. This day marks the anniversary of this discovery. The idea is to promote photography as an art form to communicate feelings.
20. World Humanitarian Day – 19 August
Sérgio Vieira de Mello with 20 colleagues died in a bombing in Iran on 19 August 2003. He was a UN humanitarian diplomat. This day marks the anniversary of this loss of the UN.
The first celebration took place in 2009. The idea is to honour people who work for humanitarian causes. The theme for 2019 was “ Humanitarian Women”.
21. World Mosquito Day – 20 August
Sir Ronald Ross made the discovery of malaria transmission on 20 August 1897. He confirmed that female mosquitoes transmit malaria between humans. He was a Nobel prize winner for his work in medical physiology. This day is to celebrate his contribution to the medical field and honour him.
22. World Senior Citizen Day – 21 August
The UN General Assembly made this day official in 1990. Ronald Reagan was the president at this time. The first celebration took place in 1991. The idea is to highlight the issues faced by senior citizens like health deterioration and abuse. This day is to remember their part in society and appreciate them.
23. International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition – 23 August
On 23 August 1791, Santo Domingo saw uprise against the slave trade. It was after this event that many movements against the slave trade started. The first celebration took place in 1998 in Haiti. UNESCO made this day official. The idea is to discourage slavey by looking at the negative history related to it.
24. European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism / World Black Ribbon Day – 23 August
It is one of the important days in the European Union. Black ribbon is the symbol rejecting extremism, intolerance, and oppression. Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany became official on 23 August 1939.
This day commemorates the victims of this brutal torture. The idea is to stop extremism and live with peace.
25. Heroes Day ( Namibia ) – 26 August
The Nambiar War of Independence began on 26 August 1966. This day honour the soldiers who died fighting this war. The UN revoked South Africa’s government from the western part. This led to the Nambiar War.
26. Women’s Equality Day – 26 August
The19th amendment to the United States Constitution came into being on 26 August 1920. It prohibits the government from denying the right to vote on the basis of sex. The first celebration took place in 1973. This day is to celebrate equal rights for all genders.
27. International Day against Nuclear Tests- 29 August
The United Nations General Assembly made this day official in 2009. The Republic of Kazakhstan had put forward this request. This is to commemorate the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test site.
The nuclear testing was done here on 29 August 1991. The idea is to discourage nuclear explosions and highlight their negative impacts.
28. Hari Merdeka (Malaysia 🇲🇾 National Day) – 31 August
It is the independence day of Malaysia. The Malayan Declaration of Independence was signed on 31 August 1957. It commemorates the formation of Malaysia in 1963. It is a federal constitutional elective monarchy. Article 160 of the Constitution of Malaysia declares Malaysia an independent state.
✏️ Santé Publique France announced this Tuesday evening that the incidence rate continues to rise in the Aude region after exceeding 400 per 100,000 inhabitants on Monday.
The incidence rate in Aude published on Tuesday 27 July for the week from 18 to 24 July reached 425 per 100,000 inhabitants.On July 29th, the incidence rate has reached 459,08.
This is the highest figure ever observed in the department since the start of the epidemic in March 2020.
The incidence rate is calculated on a sliding week basis and corresponds to the number of positive weekly cases (on this 27 July, it concerns the seven days from 18 to 24) multiplied by 100,000 and then divided by the number of inhabitants.
As a reminder, positive cases are counted in their department of residence and not in their department of testing, according to the Social Security. A Parisian tested positive in Narbonne is normally counted in the positive cases of the department of Paris.
+74% more patients hospitalised, from 0 to 5 in critical care As for hospital indicators, 47 patients were treated in hospital in the department on 27 July, i.e. 5 more than the day before, including 31 in conventional hospitalisation (+4). An indicator up 74% over seven days.
In critical care, the situation also worsened on Tuesday. Five people are being cared for in the critical care department, one more than the day before. There were none a week ago.
Ten patients are being cared for in follow-up or long-term care (stable) and 1 in another type of establishment (stable).
Zero deaths since 28 June The department still deplores 368 deaths in Covid, a figure unchanged since 28 June.
Finally, 1,245 patients have been able to return home since the beginning of the epidemic, including 2 in 24 hours.
✏️ The mysteries of the virus
Can the Delta variant go back as fast as it came? Several European countries are experiencing a surprising drop in incidence rates: Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, the Czech Republic and the UK. Across the Channel, while the scientists advising the British government were fearing up to 100,000 new positive cases per day, less than 34,000 were recorded yesterday. This decrease is all the more unexpected as the country has just lifted its latest restrictions. So how should we interpret these data? Success of the vaccination campaign? The end of the Euro football tournament, which was the source of many contaminations? Unusually warm weather? The beginning of the holidays? Or perhaps all of these at the same time? Specialists are racking their brains and for the moment have no satisfactory answer. In France, contamination continues to soar, but modelling is more optimistic The British government, for its part, is careful not to be triumphant. Despite this encouraging trend, Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday called on his fellow citizens to “remain very prudent”. In France, the number of contaminations continues to soar, but the Institut Pasteur’s modelling has been more optimistic since yesterday. At the beginning of July, they were anticipating up to 4,800 hospitalisations per day. With the acceleration of the vaccination, they could be half that number. Despite this, the impact on the hospital system would remain “significant” from next month, the authors of this note argue, without “non-pharmaceutical measures”. Hence the interest of the health pass and the local restrictions that accompany its deployment. It remains to be seen whether they will be sufficient.
✏️ Travelling in the EU: how much tobacco and alcohol can you bring back?
Are you going to Italy soon and would like to return to France with a few bottles of limoncello? Have you bought several cartons of cigarettes in Spain? Beware, especially when it comes to alcohol and cigarettes, the customs authorities set allowances, even when travelling within Europe. The quantities of tobacco have been reduced by an amendment to the amended finance law published in the Official Journal on 31 July 2020.
Les franchises reprises ci-dessus ne s’appliquent pas aux produits du tabac en provenance d’Andorre 🇦🇩 pour lesquels les franchises prévues par l’accord CE/Andorre du 28 juin 1990 s’appliquent : 300 cigarettes ou 150 cigarillos ou 75 cigares ou 400 grammes de tabac à fumer.
A bit time-zoned out this week. Enjoy the funnies.
✒︎ A lawyer was playing golf when he got hit by a ball. When the player came overlooking for the ball, the lawyer said, “I’m a lawyer, and this will cost you $5,000” “I’m sorry,” said the golfer. “But i did say “fore” . “I’ll take it said the lawyer”.
✒︎ Did you hear that the world’s biggest optimist fell out a window on the 79th floor? As he sailed past the 20th floor, he was overheard saying “Doing ok so far!”
✒︎ Two Mafia hitmen are walking deep into a forest in the middle of the night. One of them says, “I gotta admit I’m scared out here.” The other replies, “You’re scared; I gotta walk back alone”!!!
✒︎ My tolerance for idiots is extremely low today. I used to have some immunity built up, but obviously, there is a new strain out there.
✒︎ Me: Sobbing my heart out, “I can’t see you anymore … I’m not going to let you hurt me again.” Trainer: “Relax! It was only one sit-up!”
✒︎ Turns out that being an adult is mostly just googling how to do stuff.
✒︎ Do you ever get up in the morning, look in the mirror and think “That can’t be accurate.”
✒︎ I want to be 14 again and ruin my life differently. I have new ideas.
✒︎ I’m on two diets. I wasn’t getting enough food on one.
✒︎ The inventor of the auto correct has died. His funnel is tomato.
✒︎ Went to the hairdressers today and said I’d like the Beach Boys cut… …the guy said you need to see Barber Ann.
✒︎ When a child says, “I want mommy.” That’s the child version of, “I’d like to speak to your supervisor.”
✒︎ St. Peter was at the pearly gates, making his usual list of names of people waiting to get into heaven.
✒︎ The first man walked up and Peter asked, “Who are you?”
“It’s me, Albert Jones,” the voice replied. St. Peter took his name and let him in.
St. Peter asked the second one the second same question, “And who are you?”
“It’s me, Charlie Anderson.” St. Peter took his name and let him in.
Finally he turns to the third, asking the same question, “Who are you?”
“It is I, Vera Chapman,” answered the third.
“Oh, great,” muttered St. Peter. “Another English teacher.”
✒︎ I went to the Missing Persons Bureau. No one was there.
✒︎ A defending attorney was cross examining a coroner. The attorney asked, “Before you signed the death certificate had you taken the man’s pulse?” The coroner said, “No.” The attorney then asked, “Did you listen for a heart beat?”, and again the coroner said, “No.” Then the attorney asked, “Did you check for breathing?”, and again the coroner said, “No.” “So when you signed the death certificate you had not taken any steps to make sure the man was dead, had you?” The coroner, now tired of the brow beating said, “Well, let me put it this way. The man’s brain was sitting in a jar on my desk, but for all I know he could be out there practicing law somewhere.”
✒︎ Some more puns
▹ Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft, and I’ll show you a flat minor.
▹ He often broke into song because he couldn’t find the key.
▹ A plateau is a high form of flattery.
▹ Once you’ve seen one shopping center, you’ve seen a mall..
▹ Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead-to-know basis.
▹ Acupuncture is a jab well done.
✒︎ A beggar walks up to a well dressed woman who is shopping on Rodeo Drive and says, “I haven’t eaten anything in four days.” She looked at him and said, “God, I wish I had your willpower.”
✒︎ I am in shape. Round is a shape.
✒︎ Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, professionals built the Titanic.
✒︎ In just two days, tomorrow will be yesterday.
✒︎ Age doesn’t always bring wisdom. Sometimes it comes alone.
✒︎ “Doctor, I’d like you to evaluate my 13 year-old son.” “OK: He’s most likely suffering from a transient psychosis with an intermittent rage disorder, punctuated by episodic radical mood swings, but his prognosis is good for full recovery.” “How can you say all that without even meeting him?” “I thought you said he’s 13?”
✒︎ “Mr. Clark, I have reviewed this case very carefully,” the divorce court judge said, “and I’ve decided to give your wife $775 a week.” “That’s very fair, your honor,” the husband said. “And every now and then I’ll try to send her a few bucks myself.”
✒︎ One liners ……
▹ There are two kinds of pedestrians — the quick and the dead.
▹ An unbreakable toy is useful for breaking other toys.
▹ Health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.
▹ When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.
✒︎ Some men in a pickup truck drove to a lumberyard. One of the men walked into the office and said, “We need some four-by-twos.” The clerk asked, “You mean two-by-fours, don’t you?” One of the men said, “Yeah, I meant two-by-four. I think?” Then the clerk asked, “All right. How long do you need them?” The other man said, “A long time. We’re gonna build a house.”
✒︎ The man passed out in a dead faint as he came out of his front door onto the porch. Someone dialled 911. When the paramedics arrived, they helped him regain consciousness and asked if he knew what caused him to faint. “It was enough to make anybody faint,” he said. “My son asked me for the keys to the garage, and instead of driving the car out, he came out with the lawn mower.”
✏️ The prefecture’s update, drawn up this Friday evening, confirms the surge in the number of contaminations. The hospital situation is also tense.
With an incidence rate of more than 296 per 100,000 inhabitants, the Aude region has thus happily exceeded the alert threshold at the end of the week. And this index of the circulation of the virus has literally jumped: from about 50 before 14 July, it was established at 80 last week, then it had risen to 174 on Thursday to finally approach 300 at the beginning of the weekend.
The other indicators are on the rise. The rate of positivity has risen to 6.3% this week (compared to 2.5 last week), and the number of new contaminations is increasing very strongly. There are 959 new Covid positive cases this week compared to 88 last week, with 15,185 tests performed this week (compared to 12,754 last week).
Hospital impact “The Delta variant is beginning to have repercussions on the hospital system in the Aude region,” notes the Aude prefecture in its weekly update. In hospitals, 34 people are hospitalised for Covid-19 (compared to 25 last week), including: 4 people in intensive care (compared to 2 last week), 19 patients in conventional beds (compared to 12 last week) and 11 patients in follow-up care and rehabilitation services (compared to 14 last week).
At this stage, there are no more deaths in old people’s homes linked to Covid 19. In hospitals, 368 Covid-related deaths have been recorded since the beginning of the epidemic.
“The Delta variant is still gaining ground. The only solution is vaccination. This summer is a key moment in the fight against the epidemic: it must allow people who are still unprotected to be vaccinated, in all places and without an appointment”, reminds the prefecture which indicates the possibilities of obtaining an appointment, on http://www.sante.fr or by telephone on 0800 54 19 19.
✏️ The effectiveness of Pfizer’s vaccine against Covid-19 infection has fallen to 39% in Israel, the national health ministry said Thursday. The figure refers to the period between June 20 and July 17, it said, adding that the ongoing decline had been observed in parallel with the spread of the Delta variant in the country.
This is significantly lower than the 64% measured between 6 June and 3 July and 94.3% measured between 2 May and 5 June. However, the vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing severe cases in Israel is currently estimated at 91.4%, and 88% in preventing Covid-19-related hospitalisations.
✏️ According to the latest OpinionWay survey, 10% of French people say they have not yet been vaccinated, but intend to do so soon, 8% are still undecided and 16% are categorically opposed to the vaccine. Most of these 16% are blue collar workers, who at 24% are firmly opposed, i.e. twice as many as all other classes of the population, who are credited with 12%.
Still according to the same poll, we learn that the opponents of the vaccine are RN sympathisers (29%), a much higher level than the other parties with LFI following with 15%, 8% for the PS, 7% for EELV sympathisers, 5% for LR supporters and finally 2% on the side of LREM.
In this survey, we learn that the opponents of the vaccine are under 35 years old, are mostly men while women follow just behind, live in a rural commune or a small town, generally in the south-west or north-west of France. It is worth noting that people living in the Paris region are the most likely to be vaccinated, followed closely by people living in the south-east of France.
✏️ Water restrictions
Aude: almost the entire department placed on drought alert by the prefecture. The following are prohibited watering of lawns, public and private green spaces, pleasure gardens from 8 am to 8 pm (individual vegetable gardens are not concerned); watering of sports areas of any kind from 8 am to 8 pm; washing of cars except for professional installations and except for regulatory obligations; the filling of swimming pools (their replenishment is authorised between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.); the watering of crops from watercourses, their accompanying aquifers, the Canal du Midi and its annexes from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
I have tried most if not all music streaming applications over the years: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Tidal, Amazon Music, Qobuz, Napster and Deezer.
In the end I found that Deezer suited me best and in the end I decided to even pay for the premium service.
What I did not know is that Deezer, launched in August 2007, is actually French 🇫🇷 and that made my day.
I do it my way 