MY GOURMET MARGARITA

From the New York Times this morning, authorities in the U.S. are considering delaying that second Moderna and Pfizer second shot so more people can be vaccinated.  While Anthony Fauci is against doing this, the UK has better controlled this infection by doing so:

And remember, this is the country from which came that B.1.1.7 variant.  The two key points are that more of the population can be made partially immune after only one shot, and it is possible that a slight delay from the three-weeks to a month period to, say, three months or four, might make the vaccine even more effective than the 95% announced rate.  From the NYT:

Britain and the U.S. have now given a roughly similar number of total shots per capita. The difference is that Britain has deliberately delayed second shots, by up to 12 weeks. The results are impressive.

Further, the FDA and CDC called for a pause of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because 6 out of 6.8 million experienced extremely rare blood clots that resist known treatment.  That is an incidence of less than one in a million!  Methinks this is too much of an abundance of caution.  The affected were six women between the ages of 18-48, and one died.  Some follow-up announcement is expected in a few days.

This should not materially affect dosages because more and more the problem is becoming one of personal choice not to be vaccinated.  On this point, apparently there will be no national COVID-19 passport, for:

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki when asked about vaccine passports at a press conference April, 6, 2021: “There will be no federal vaccinations database and no federal mandate requiring everyone to obtain a single vaccination credential.”

Read more here: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/coronavirus/article250550409.html#storylink=cpy

Mandating such a passport to attend indoor sporting events and traveling on planes/buses/ships is something I have been advocating for months.  You need to provide incentives for some of the 30% at this time not planning to be vaccinated.  To have each state and equivalent worldwide issuing their own version is insane.  Not only should the U.S. have a coordinated plan, but also the world.  Sure, this is like Big Brother controlling you, but we do pay taxes, have travel passports, driver's licenses and the like, and are all the better because of them.

I haven't quite decided on the exact topic for my science Wednesday tomorrow, but after receiving the following message this morning from James Hansen, someone I've known for a very long time, I might focus on his weekly messages to followers.

13 April 2021

James Hansen and Makiko Sato (right)

The date of peak cherry blossom bloom has been recorded in Kyoto Japan for 1200 years.  The date of peak bloom this year, 26 March, is the earliest in the 1200-year record (top graph).  Map above: March temperature in Japan has increased about 3°C (~5°F) in the past century.

Last week I featured a posting of MY GOURMET VEGETABLE DIET WORKS.  Today, a gourmet margarita.  Here is the traditional way to make this drink.

I sometimes use Mezcal instead of Tequila.  Mezcal is the most traditional agave (a succulent) Mexican spirit.  No matter what you read, the main difference is that it tastes smokier than tequila, sort of like comparing Johnny Walker Black Label with Red Label.  Also:

• 
  Mezcal is generally unknown, with annual revenues of only $90 million compared to $3 billion for tequila.
• Tequila is only made from Weber blue agave and is a type of mezcal.
• The reason why mezcal is smokier is that the agave (see that pineapple-looking core above?) for tequila is steamed in ovens, while for mezcal that portion of the plant (and is made different species of agave) is often roasted in underground pits.
• For both, the pulp is fermented and distilled.
• Some compare mezcal with single-malt scotch in that depending on where the agave is grown and distilled, distinctive tastes result.
• 
  The biggest difference is cost.  Tequila can be found for less than $20/bottle.  Try to find a mezcal in that range.  The cheap ones sell for more than $30.  The 94-point Alipus San Juan (47.2% ethanol) sells for $52.  A 92-point Erstwile Arroqueno (44%) goes for $123.  A good buy is the 91-point Luminar Joven (40%) for $30.  Here to the right are five of the better ones for $40 or lower per bottle.

So on Sunday, I made myself a gourmet margarita without salt to go with a tacos salad.

I sipped on the mezcal (which, of course was also in that margarita to the left) while watching the Masters Golf Tournament.

First, the items provided by 15 Craigside, to which I added extra hot sauce and Cheez-It:

I usually use Fritos, but had an open bag of Cheez-It.  First time I have tasted it in many decades.  I remember when I first was introduced to it as a Stanford freshman.  This was my rare snack I could afford from the vending machine in my dormitory.  I had it with Martinelli apple juice in a round bottle.  What a memory for something that happened more than 60 years ago.

I also found a Japanese wagyu steak in my freezer, so for dinner had it with shiitake mushrooms and chutoro.

Finally, another "vegetable" lunch, this time artichoke, boiled peanuts and the remainder of the Cheez-Its:

To close, I'm not sure what this is, perhaps a scud cloud or some kind or tornadogenesis.

Kind of reminds me of a different type of weather anomaly, a mega-haboob over Arizona.  Click on that.  Its mesmerizing.

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