From  Worldometer  (new  COVID-19 deaths yesterday):          DAY    USA    WORLD     Brazil      India      South Africa June     9    1093     4732        1185        246       82 July    22     1205     7128        1293      1120      572 Aug    12     1504     6556        1242       835      130 Sept     9     1208      6222       1136      1168       82 Oct     21     1225      6849         571       703   ...

The first remarkable person, one you know, is Queen Elizabeth II.  Next year will mean 70 years as the reigning monarch, at the age of 95.  She is Queen to the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica and Barbados.  #2 in length is Hassanai Bolkiah of Brunei...53 years  They are prepared: I'm in the midst of planning three around the world trips.  Safety and security dominate my list of absolute needs.  I will avoid the summer heat of Dubai by walking through their World Expo in December.  I'm a bit concerned about the Buenos Aires World Expo because South American is just not a safe place these days.  I live in a cocoon. Then there is Sir Ranulph Fiennes.  Where do I start? In 1984 the Guinness Book of World Records named him as the world's greatest living explorer. To begin: His father died four months before Ranulph was born in the UK during World War II.  He inherited dad's baronetcy at birth. Grew up in South Africa but returned ...

I've previously expressed my views on the George Floyd case , which began today in Minneapolis.  All kinds of Black Lives Matter and police justice issues at stake.  Only police officer Derek Chauvin on trial.  The defense will prove that Floyd was on fentanyl and methamphetamine, had underlying health conditions and was a convicted criminal.  Historically, jurors usually lean in the direction of the police.  However, the times have changed.  The city of Minneapolis has already agred to pay the Floyd family $27 million.  While live on news channels, the case will last another month. Here is one news item that, finally, is appearing to be making headway: The Biden administration is developing digital “vaccine passports,”   The Washington Post reported . The Ever Given is free and again sailing through the Suez Canal.  Who is to blame?  Weather?  This container ship is Panama-flagged, Japanese-owned and Taiwan-operated. Are you a can...