A FEW THINGS ON MY MIND

 I keep hearing rumors that COVID-19 is back this summer, especially in the USA, and, more specifically Hawaii.  Positivity is somewhat high, but this graphic from KFF indicates that nothing much is happening in the U.S.  Map of COVID-19 cases this past week.

Update on Paris Summer Olympics.

• Temperature has not been a problem.
• Today, 68F low to 83F high with a little bit of rain.
• Tomorrow, 64F-76F and cloudy.
• The next week will see highs from 70F on Saturday with some rain to 90F on Tuesday with clouds, but down to 79F by Friday, August 2.
• Looking into the month of August, the highest I see will be 87F on August 5, with most highs in the high 70Fs, with mostly clouds.
• You want to see all the event results, click on this.
• If you're looking for soccer, no such thing in France.  Look for football.
• Today, the USA women's football team beat Zambia, 3-0.
• Today, the USA men's rugby team beat Uruguay, 33-17, and Fiji beat France, 19-12.  There is a game on Peacock between Australia and the USA, with  Australia leading 5-0.
• Want to watch any event on TV?  Click on this.  
• Nothing left today.
• Big day tomorrow, Friday, July 26, all times EDT.  The following can be seen on your regular NBC, USA or CNBC stations.
• Opening ceremony, 1:30 PM EDT on NBC, Peacock and Fubo.
• 45 events will be on those same channels, plus USA and CNBC.  The following events will be carried live on NBC, USA or CNBC.
• Diving:  Women's Synchro 3m Springboard final, 5AM
• Beach Volleyball:  USA vs Cuba at 8AM 
• Water Polo:  Greece vs USA at 9:35
• Skateboarding:  Men's Street final at 11:30
• Soccer:  USA vs New Zealand at 1PM
• Men and women surfing from Tahiti only on Peacock
• Field Hockey:  Argentina vs USA at 1:30
• Rugby:  Men's Gold Medal match at 1:45 
• Volleyball:  USA vs Argentina at 3PM

There are other links providing full coverage.  For example, you have these options for Saturday:

Saturday, July 27

• 12 a.m. – Handball, Men’s Group A: Spain vs. Slovenia (Digital Only)
• 12 a.m. – Rowing, Heats: Double, Quadruple & more (USA & Digital)
• 12 a.m. – Rowing, Heats: Single, Double, Quadruple Sculls (Digital Only)
• 12 a.m. – Volleyball, Match 1: Men’s Pool Play (Digital Only)
• 12:30 a.m. – Equestrian, Eventing: Dressage (USA & Digital)
• 12:30 a.m. – Equestrian, Eventing: Dressage Team & Individual, Part 1 (Digital Only)
• 1 a.m. – Fencing, Women’s Epee & Men’s Sabre Eliminations (Digital Only)
• 1 a.m. – Field Hockey, Men’s Pool A: Great Britain vs. Spain (Digital Only)
• 1 a.m. – Paris Extra 1, Basketball, Handball & more (TK?????)
• 1 a.m. – Paris Extra 2, Badminton, Judo & more (TK?????)
• 1 a.m. – Judo Women’s 48kg, Men’s 60kg Eliminations (Digital Only)
• 1:30 a.m. – Badminton Group Play: Singles, Doubles (USA
• 1:30 a.m. Field Hockey, Men’s Pool B: Belgium vs. Ireland (Digital Only)
• 1:30 – Mixed Team Air Rifle Final (Digital Only)
• 2 a.m. – Basketball, Men’s Group A: Australia vs. TBD (Digital Only)
• 2 a.m. – Diving, Women’s Synchro: 3m Springboard Final (Digital Only)
• 2 a.m. – Gymnastics, Men’s Qualification: Subdiv. 1 Floor (Digital Only)
• 2 a.m. – Gymnastics, Men’s Qualification: Subdiv. 1 Horiz. Bar (Digital Only)
• 2 a.m. – Gymnastics, Men’s Qualification: Subdiv. 1 Parallel Bars (Digital Only)
• 2 a.m. – Gymnastics, Men’s Qualification: Subdiv. 1 Pommel Horse Digital Only)
• 2 a.m. – Gymnastics, Men’s Qualification: Subdiv. 1 Rings Digital Only)
• 2 a.m. – Gymnastics, Men’s Qualification: Subdiv. 1 Vault Digital Only)
• 2 a.m. – Gymnastics, Men’s Qualification: Subdivision 1 Digital Only)
• 2 a.m. – Gymnastics, Men’s Qualifying Subdivision 1 (E!)
• 2 a.m. – Handball, Men’s Group B: Hungary vs. Egypt (Digital Only)
• 2 a.m. – Mixed Air Rifle Finale (CNBC)
• 2 a.m. – Swimming, Heats: M&W 400m Free, M&W 4x100m Free & more (Digital Only)
• 2:30 a.m. – Swimming, Heats: Men’s & Women’s 4x100m Free & More (USA)
• 2:30 a.m. – Basketball, Men’s Group A: Australia vs. TBD (CNBC)
• 3 a.m. – Volleyball and Diving (Telemundo)
• 3 a.m. – Skateboarding, Men’s Street: Preliminary Round (Digital Only)
• 3 a.m. – Tennis: Integrated Feed (Digital Only)
• 3 a.m. – Tennis, Men’s: Singles First Round (Digital Only)
• 3 a.m. Tennis, Men’s: Singles First Round (Digital Only)
• 3 a.m. – Tennis: Outer Court 10 (Digital Only)
• 3 a.m. – Tennis: Outer Court 11 (Digital Only)
• 3 a.m. – Tennis: Outer Court 12 (Digital Only)
• 3 a.m. – Tennis: Outer Court 13 (Digital Only)
• 3 a.m. – Tennis: Outer Court 14 (Digital Only)
• 3 a.m. – Tennis: Outer Court 6 (Digital Only)
• 3 a.m. – Tennis: Outer Court 7 (Digital Only)
• 3 a.m. – Tennis: Outer Court 8 (Digital Only)
• 3 a.m. – Tennis: Outer Court 9 (Digital Only)
• 3:45 a.m. – Field Hockey, Men’s Pool A: Netherlands vs. South Africa (Digital Only)
• 3:45 a.m. – Skateboarding, Men’s Street: Preliminar Round (CNBC)
• 4 a.m. – Gold Zone: Day 1 (Gold Zone)
• 4 a.m. – Volleyball, Men’s Pool Play Match 2 (Digital Only)
• 4:15 a.m. – Field Hockey, Men’s Pool B: Australia vs. Argentina (Digital Only)
• 4:15 a.m. – Rowing Heats: Double, Quadruple and More (USA)
• 4:30 a.m. – Badminton: Group Play: Singles, Doubles (E!)
• 4:30 a.m. – Basketball, Men’s Group B: Germany vs. Japan (Digital Only)
• 4:45 a.m. – Volleyball, Men’s Pool Play (USA)
• 5 a.m. – Noticias Olímpicas (Universo)
• 5 a.m. – Badminton: M/W/Mx Singles, Doubles: Group Play (Pt. 2) (Digital Only)
• 5 a.m. – Beach Volleyball, M or W Pool Play: Match 1 (Digital Only)
• 5 a.m. – Beach Volleyball: Pool Play (NBC)
• 5 a.m. – Equestrian Eventing: Dressage Team & Individual Part 2 (Digital Only)
• 5 a.m. – Handball, Men’s Group A: Croatia vs. Japan (Digital Only)
• 5 a.m. – Water Polo, Women’s Group: Netherlands vs. Hungary (E! & Digital)
• 5:30 a.m. – Cycling, Men’s & Women’s Individual: Time Trials (Digital Only)
• 5:30 a.m. – Rugby, Men’s Bronze/Gold Finals (Digital Only)
• 5:30 a.m. – Rennis, Women’s Singles First Round (Digital Only)
• 6 a.m. – Badminton Group Play: Singles, Doubles (USA)
• 6 a.m. – Beach Volleyball, M or W: Match 2 (Digital Only)
• 6 a.m. – Canoeing, Men’s Canoe & Women’s Slalom Heats (Digital Only)
• 6 a.m. – Cycling, Women’s: Time Trial (NBC)
• 6 a.m. – Fútbol: Argentina vs. Iraq (Universo)
• 6 a.m. – Fútbol: (Dominican Republic vs. Spain (Telemundo)
• 6 a.m. – Soccer, Men’s Group B: Argentina vs. Iraq (Digital Only)
• 6 a.m. – Soccer, Men’s Group C: Dominican Republic vs. Spain (Digital Only)
• 6 a.m. – Table Tennis: M&W Mixed Doubles: Early Rounds (Digital Only)
• 6 a.m. – Tennis, Women’s Singles First Round (Digital Only)
• 6:30 a.m. – Boxing, W Bantam (R32), M Light (R32) & more (Digital Only)
• 6:30 a.m. – Gymnastics, Men’s Qualification: Subdivision 2 (Digital & E!)
• 6:30 a.m. – Water Polo, Women’s Group B: USA vs. Greece (USA)
• 6:35 a.m. – Rugby, Men’s Semifinals (CNBC)
• 6:35 a.m. – Water Polo, Women’s Group B: Greece vs. USA (Digital Only)
• 7 a.m. – Handball, Men’s Group B:: Norway vs. Argentina (Digital Only)
• 7 a.m. – Handball, Men’s Group Play (CNBC)
• 7 a.m. – Judo, Women’s 48kg, Men’s 60kg Repechages, Finals (Digital Only)
• 7 a.m. – Rugby, Men’s Semifinal (NBC)
• 7:30 a.m. – Swimming: Heats: Men’s & Women’s 4x100m Free & more (NBC)
• 7:45 a.m. – Cycling, Men’s Time Trial (USA)
• 8 a.m. – Field Hockey, Men’s Pool A: Germany vs. France (Digital Only)
• 8 a.m. – Gymnastics, Men’s Qualifying Subdivision 2 (NBC)
• 8 a.m. – Skateboarding, Men’s Street: Final (Digital Only
• 8 a.m. – Fútbol: Ukraine vs. Morroco (Telemundo)
• 8 a.m. – Fútbol: Uzbekistan vs. Egypt (Universo & Digital)
• 8 a.m. – Soccer, Men’s Group A: New Zealand vs. USA
• 8 a.m. – Tennis, Men’s Doubles First Round (Digital Only)
• 8 a.m. – Tennis, Women’s Doubles First Round (Digital Only)
• 8 a.m. – Volleyball, Men’s Pool Play Match 3 (Digital Only)
• 8:15 a.m. – Basketball, Men’s Group B: France vs TBD (Digital & CNBC)
• 8:30 a.m. – Field Hockey, Men’s Pool B: India vs. New Zealand (Digital Only)
• 8:30 a.m. – Skateboarding, Men’s Street: Final (NBC)
• 8:30 a.m. – Volleyball & More (Paris Extra1 )
• 9 a.m. – Beach Volleyball: M or W Pool Play Match 3 (Digital Only)
• 9 a.m. – Canoeing, Women’s Slalom Kayak Heats (E!)
• 9:05 a.m. – Badminton Group Play, Singoes, Doubles (USA)
• 9:30 a.m. – Water Polo, Women’s Group B: Spain vs. France (Digital Only)
• 9:45 a.m. – Water Polo, Women’s Group: Greece vs. USA (NBC)
• 10 am. – Beach Volleyball, M or W Pool Play Match 4 (Digital Only)
• 10 a.m. – Fencing, Women’s Epees & Men’s Sabre Bronze/Gold Finals (Digital Only)
• 10 a.m. – Soccer, Men’s Group A: New Zealand vs. USA (USA)
• 10 a.m. – Soccer, Men’s Group B: Ukraine vs. Morocco (Digital Only)
• 10 a.m. – Soccer, Men’s Group D: Israel vs. Paraguay (Digital Only)
• 10 a.m. – Surfing, Men’s Round 1 (Digital Only)
• 10 a.m. – Tennis, Women’s Singles First Round (Digital Only)
• 10:10 a.m. – Table Tennis – M&W Singles: Prelims & more (E!)
• 10:30 a.m. – Badminton, M/W Singles, Doubles Group Play (Pt. 3) (Digital Only)
• 10:30 a.m. – Field Hockey, Women’s Group B: USA vs. Argentina (CNBC)
• 10:45 a.m. – Field Hockey, Women’s Group B: Argentina vs. USA (Digital Only)
• 10:45 a.m. – Rugby, Men’s Bronze, Gold Finals (NBC)
• 11 a.m. – Boxing, W Light (R32), M Middle (R32) & more (Digital Only)
• 11 a.m. – Gymnastics Men’s Qualification: Subdivision 3 (Digital Only)
• 11 a.m. – Table Tennis, Men’s & Women’s Singles: Round of 64
• 11:05 a.m. – Water Polo, Women’s Group A: Australia vs. China
• 11:15 a.m. – Field Hockey, Women’s Pool A: Netherlands vs. France (Digital Only)
• 11:30 a.m. – Swimming, Finals: M&W, 400m Free, M&W 4x100m Free (Digital & NBC)
• 12 p.m. – Basketball, Men’s Group A: TBD vs. Canada (Digital Only)
• 12 p.m. – Handball, Men’s Group B: Denmark vs. France (Digital Only)
• 12 p.m. – Fútbol: France vs. Guinea (Telemundo)
• 12 p.m. – Soccer, Men’s Group A: France vs. Guinea (Digital Only)
• 12 p.m. – Soccer, Men’s Group D: Japan vs. Mali
• 12 p.m. – Tennis, Men’s Singles (Digital Only)
• 12:00 p.m. – Volleyball, Men’s Pool Play Match 4 (Digital Only & USA)
• 12:15: p.m. – Basketball, Men’s Group A: TBD vs. Canada (CNBC)
• 1 p.m. – Beach Volleyball, Match 5 – M or W Pool Play (Digital Only)
• 1 p.m. – Pool Play (NBC Daytime)
• 1:30 p.m. – Equestrian Eventing: Dressage (E!)
• 2 p.m. – Beach Volleyball, M or W Pool Play Match 6
• 2 p.m. – Boxing, Women’s Bantam Eliminations & More (CNBC)
• 2 p.m. – Cycling, Men’s Time Trial (NBC)
• 2 p.m. – Women’s Epee & Men’s Sabre Bronze/Gold Finals (USA)
• 2 p.m. – Day 1 Re-Air Part 1 (Paris Extra 1 & Paris Extra 2)
• 2 p.m. – Handball, Skateboarding (Paris Extra 1)
• 2 p.m. – Shooting, Mixed Team Air Rifle Final (CNBC)
• 2:45 p.m. – Surfing, Women’s Round 1 (Digital Only)
• 3 p.m. – Water Polo, Women’s Group: Greece vs. USA (USA)
• 4 p.m. – Rugby, Men’s Bronze, Gold Final (USA)
• 5 p.m. – Basketball, Men’s Group B: Germany vs. Japan (USA)
• 6:30 p.m. – Canoeing, Men’s Canoe Heats, Slalom (USA)
• 7:15 p.m. – Rowing, Heats: Double, Quadruple & More
• 7:30 p.m. – Day 1 Re-Air Part 2 (Paris Extra 1)
• 8 p.m. – Beach Volleyball Pool Play (USA)
• 8 p.m. – Primetime in Paris (NBC)
• 8:30 p.m. – Day 1 Re-Air Part 2 (Paris Extra 2)
• 9 p.m. – Day 1 Re-Air (Telemundo)
• 9 p.m. – Soccer, Men’s Group A: New Zealand vs. USA (USA)
• 11 p.m. – Beach Volleyball Pool Play (USA)
• 11:30 p.m. – Badminton, M/W/Mx Singles, Doubles: Group Play (Part 4) (Digital Only)
• 11:30 p.m. – NBC Late Night July 27/28 (NBC)

All that in one day!  Well, enough for the Summer Olympics.  What about global warming?  

• This past Sunday, July 21, was the world's hottest day ever recorded, a global average of 62.76 F.
• But, yikes, Monday, July 22, was even hotter, rising to 62.87F.
• But you say,  63F is kind of cold.
• It is where you live that is important.
• Urban areas experience the urban heat island effect (UHI) caused by energy usage, concrete, etc.
• These areas only occupy about 0.5% of Earth's land surface, but host more than half the world's population.
• Rainfall is greater downwind of cities.
• UHI further decreases air and water quality.

Again changing subjects, have you heard of the saltwater flush?  Popular these days on TikTok.  First, don't try it until you discuss the merits with your personal physician.  For one, those with high blood pressure, digestive issues, kidney or heart disease and other serious medical condition should avoid this.  What is saltwater flushing?

• A body cleansing program to lose weight, while treating constipation and bloating by detoxifying the colon.
• Here is the process.
• Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of non-iodized salt, some prefer sea salt or pink Himalayan, to one liter of water.
• Drink the mixture over a period of 5 minutes.
• Do this on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning.
• Make sure there is a bathroom nearby for MOST OF THE DAY.
• Kind of reminds me about drinking one gallon of water the night before a colonoscopy, something I dread.  But you need 3.9 liters to get up to a gallon, so this should not be too much of a problem.
• There some risks.
• Nausea, vomiting and weakness.
• Potential for dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, which could lead to muscle spasms, twitching, numbness, confusion, feeling lethargic, convulsions, seizures and heart problems.
• There is no medical research to validate any benefits.
• Dubious and dangerous.

Next, to a similarly murky product, charcoal toothpaste.

• Activated charcoal is now found as an ingredient for various commercial products like face wash, makeup and toothpaste.
• The American Dental Association has found no evidence that charcoal toothpaste is effective, or even safe, for you can harm your gums and teeth.
• This product can erode your enamel and expose the sensitive layer of the tooth called dentin.

So, what about whitening toothpaste?

• Toothpaste generally has fluorine and potassium nitrate.  Neither whitens teeth.
• Whitening toothpaste can include charcoal, hydrated silica and bacon soda to scrub away stains, bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide, surfactants and colorants/dyes.
• Health, publication, says:

Whitening toothpaste is generally safe to use. However, if you use it for long periods, it may damage enamel and irritate your gums and teeth. Do not use whitening toothpaste more often than the label indicates—for example, once or twice daily for six weeks—or as a dentist advises.

• Certainly avoid whitening toothpaste if you are allergic to any bleaching agent or have sensitive teeth/gums.

Whitening gels?

Whitening toothpaste is generally safe to use. However, if you use it for long periods, it may damage enamel and irritate your gums and teeth. Do not use whitening toothpaste more often than the label indicates—for example, once or twice daily for six weeks—or as a dentist advises.

The bottomline?  Colgate promotes them.  But, of course, they also sell them.  I was running low, so I began searching for my next tube or container of toothpaste.  Several stores only had this whitening variety.  I finally found a Colgate with no additives, which I purchased.  Best to first discuss with your dentist if you are seriously considering products to whiten your teeth.

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