This blog site has too much recently focused on natural disasters and Donald Trump, so today, an escape into sports. Must start with Spain beating England for their first  soccer World Cup .  From utter turmoil to triumph, what a story.   The women had revolted against their Spanish soccer authority, and lost that battle .  Perhaps 12 of their best players might have been missing in Australia.  Yet, they're world champs.  Incredible. Oh, I drafted three ESPN NFL fantasy football teams yesterday.  Took me two hours.   Mind you, it is FREE. Had no idea what I was doing, but ended up, I think, with competitive teams.   First kick-off is not until the day after my birthday, a game between Detroit and Kansas City  (I have Mahomes and Kelce ) on September 7.  I'll be on the Pride of America between the Big Island and Kauai. There will be three games this year in London and two in Frankfurt.  They had one game in Munich last year, and it was sold out. Super Bowl LVIII will be on Sunda

I yesterday thought I ended my cruise series.  However, Part 6 mentioned the December 2023 to May 2024 274-night  Ultimate Global Cruise , with four segments, and one of them interested me, so to quote: May 9 to July 4:  Dubai to Barcelona, middle east treasures and marvels of the Med. Hmmmm.... I wonder if space is still available.  We fly on November 11 to Dubai for a Regent Seven Seas cruise to Singapore. Why not a summer of 2024 cruise from Dubai to Barcelona, as they pay for the business class fare from Honolulu to Dubai, then Barcelona to Honolulu. I thus inquired.   Cabins still available at $352/night with free drinks, wi-fi and tips, but the business class fare is only for those who take the full world option.   If they covered first class from Honolulu to Dubai, then from Barcelona to Honolulu, we'd be inclined to go.  Maybe we can yet work out a deal.  Nah, they won't, so this is one cruise I will miss.   Anyway, the ship Royal Caribbean uses for this ultimate sailin

 First, some latest information about COVID-19: Sweden now recommends a  second booster shot for people who are 80 and over . New York City has a vaccination mandate.  They just  fired 1430 employees  for not complying.  That turned out to be 0.4% of the 400,000 work force. About the Beijing Winter Olympics: Eileen Gu  of San Francisco, but representing China, won a silver medal in freeski slopestyle. Mikaela Schffrin  finished 18th in the women's downhill.  But she competed. Germany  won gold, silver and bronze medals in the two-man bobsled. Looks like 15-year old Russian figure skater  Kamila Valieva  ( right ) will be allowed to continue competing, and seems likely to gain a second gold on Thursday.  Something to do with being a minor and thus a "protected person."  Very troublesome decision, for Russia is already on probation for a variety of doping tests.  A little known heart medication, trimetazidine, is at the heart of the issue.  Very confusing judgement call whi

From  Worldometer  (new 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        85 Nov     11     1479      10178         564       550        60            25     2304    12025        620       518       118 Dec       1      2611     11891         697       500      109              9     3265    12342         848       337      142            16     3538     13535        968       357      166               17     3387      12968      1054       342      184 Summary: The USA had 237,349 new cases yesterday and 3387 new deaths. Japan had 3061 new cases and 51 new deaths. China had 7 new cases and no new deaths. Singapore had 24 new cases and no new deaths. So