In Lakeway
Trail of Lights
This beloved tradition opens with a special “Lights On!” Ceremony tonight–Saturday, December 4, 6pm, at City Hall. After that, you can stroll through the light display every night.
Hanukkah Menorah Lighting
This brand new tradition continues tonight and tomorrow night (December 4 and 5) at sunset/5:15pm, at City Hall.
Holiday Singalong
There are 2 shows on Sunday, December 5, at 2pm and 4:30pm, at the Activity Center. Admission is free, but please bring an unwrapped toy or a gift card, for local charities.
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
A short ceremony at 4pm on Tuesday, December 7, at the Lakeway Heritage Center (963 Lohmans Crossing) will honor our WWII veterans and the Americans killed 80 years ago, in the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.
Train rides and a showing of The Polar Express
On Friday, December 10, Lakeway’s Parks and Rec committee is hosting trackless train rides, followed by an outdoor showing of the holiday film, The Polar Express, in the City Hall parking lot. Train rides start at 6pm, and the movie starts at 6:15pm. No charge! Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, snacks, etc., for a magical evening under the stars.
Local Holiday Giving Opportunities
The Activity Center makes it easy to be Santa. Through December 15, you can drop off:
–Unwrapped toys and gifts to be donated to local charities:
–Non-perishable items for local food banks; and
–Pet food and other items for local animal shelters.
Lakeway Council’s Dec. 6 meeting was cancelled.
The next meeting will be on Dec. 20.
Coyotes
As happens from time to time in Lakeway, we are seeing a lot of active (and hungry) coyotes, day and night. Omnivores, coyotes mostly eat rodents, but they will snatch and kill cats and or small dogs. Lately, several residents have witnessed this happening to their pets. Please, please, please do not let your cat outside at any time. Also, never let your dog out alone, even in a fenced yard as coyotes can scale most fences. On walks, use a short leash (so you and your dog look like 1 large adversary instead of 2 smaller prey objects). For protection, carry a security whistle.
If you want to make your back yard safer, aluminum rollers can be added to the top of a metal or wooden fence, to discourage coyotes from scaling the fence. Check these fence company sites for photos and info–https://www.alliedfence.com/coyote-rollers https://coloradocoyoterollers.com
Texas elections
Beto O’Rourke for Governor!
People stopped caring about this actor’s over-hyped decision long ago. Matthew McConaughey says he won’t run for Texas governor 11/28/21 https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/28/matthew-mcconaughey-texas-governor-2022/
As threatened, Rep. Louis Gohmert will challenge Ken Paxton in the crowded GOP Primary for Texas AG. Maybe this far-right oddball can’t compete for attention with the extreme Republican nutjobs in the US Congress these days…. U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert joins Texas Republicans running against Attorney General Ken Paxton 11/21/22 https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/18/louie-gohmert-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton/
And the crowded GOP primary race for AG got less crowded, when Matt Krause dropped out. Republican state Rep. Matt Krause drops out of attorney general’s race to run for Tarrant County district attorney 11/23/21 https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/23/matt-krause-texas-attorney-general-tarrant-district-attorney/
Daring Mighty Things
NASA is going all Armageddon on an asteroid. On Nov. 24, it used a SpaceX rocket to launch its Double Redirection Test (DART) mission. The plan is to travel 6 million miles and crash the 1,200LB refrigerator-sized Falcon 9 craft into Dimorphos, an asteroid the size of a football field that is harmlessly orbiting a larger asteroid. The point is target practice, in case we ever need to re-direct an asteroid heading toward Earth. Due to the distance involved, the big crash won’t happen until next fall. This has got to be one of the best uses of testosterone ever…. Nasa launches spacecraft in first ever mission to deflect asteroid 11/24/21 https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/nov/24/nasa-launches-dart-mission-to-deflect-asteroid-in-planetary-defence-test
Humanity’s litter orbiting Earth is not just messy—it’s dangerous. International Space Station forced to swerve to avoid US space junk 12/3/21 https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/dec/03/international-space-station-forced-to-swerve-to-avoid-us-space-junk
Back to me….
Got my Covid booster right before Thanksgiving. Last spring, I got Pfizer shots so wanted to mix and match now for maximum effect. I got a Moderna booster at HEB Lakeway–quick and easy! Go here to create an appointment– https://vaccine.heb.com/scheduler
I read that, in Japan, older adults now use more diapers than babies do. Just wanted other people have that bit of info in their brains that so I’m not the only one….
I’m painting my garage. FYI—a garage is NOT a small room…. But, the ceiling and walls are done. As soon as my neck and back resume normal operations, I’ll start on the cabinets, shelving, doors, windows, etc.
Books I recently finished (available at Lake Travis Community Library):
State of Terror (2021), by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny—Well, I got through it, but around the middle it was a real slog. I did appreciate the several Twin Pines Easter eggs saluting Penny’s stellar Gamache books. Overall, the writing of this “thriller” was dumbed down, compared to Penny’s usual high-caliber work. I’m sure it was a lucrative endeavor that increased her stature in the literary world, but I was disappointed when the ending clearly set up a possible sequel; I really hope she doesn’t spend more time on this project, at the expense of her Gamache series. Clearly, THAT is her calling.
Peril (2021), by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa—The veteran journalist famous for exposing Watergate teamed up with one of today’s top political reporters to dive deep into Trump’s last year in office. The title they chose rings true over and over as they detail the presidential campaign, Trump’s Covid failures, how generals evaded annihilating racial protests with military might, Biden’s resounding win that was re-branded a steal to save face, the resulting insurrection, and Trump’s second impeachment.
Here are some recent photos of our deer, taken on my morning walks.
The Coronavirus
Worldwide, Omicron is the latest threatening variant. It was announced by authorities in South Africa on Nov. 25; they called it “a big jump in evolution.” Initial examination found “a very unusual constellation of mutations,” including over 30 mutations in the spike protein alone. The part of the new variant that creates the entry point for the virus to infect human cells has 10 mutations; Beta has three and Delta has two. Originally, dozens of Omicron cases were identified in South Africa, Botswana, and nearby countries. Within a few days, cases were found throughout Europe (Belgium, Czech Republic, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Austria, France, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain), as well as in Hong Kong, Israel, Australia, Canada, Brazil, Japan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Korea, and USA. Internationally, stock markets fell sharply due to the news. Some countries (including Japan, Israel and Morocco) closed their borders to ALL travelers. Many countries, including the US, have imposed travel restrictions against people coming from South Africa and neighboring countries, but obviously Omicron is already worldwide.
More study is needed to determine the danger of Omicron, compared to the other Covid-19 strains. 1) Is this variant more transmissible? 2) Does it cause more serious disease? 3) Can it evade the current vaccines? However, South Africa now reports Omicron is spreading there twice as quickly as Delta did, with cases doubling every 3 days. In addition, Omicron is frequently infecting South Africans who previously had Covid, indicating that past infection provides no immunity to Omicron.
Europe is now the epicenter of the pandemic, regardless of variant. Many countries are experiencing more cases than ever, and restrictions are being re-instituted. The UK reverted to mask mandates in stores and for public transit. France’s prime minister tested positive for a breakthrough case of Covid.
South Korea also reports a record number of new cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
In the US, in the last 2 weeks, cases have increased 13%, hospitalizations are up 18%, and deaths dropped 2%. We are averaging 104,000 new cases per day. 58,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with Covid, and the death rate averages 1,100 people per day.
Authorities announced on Dec. 1 that the first case of the Omicron variant had been found in the US. The patient, now in isolation, traveled from South Africa to San Francisco on Nov. 22, is fully vaccinated, and seems to have a mild case. Since then, cases were found in Colorado, New York, Hawaii, Maryland, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, Utah, and Pennsylvania.
As of Nov. 20, the number of US Covid-19 deaths recorded in 2021 had surpassed the toll in 2020, according to federal data and Johns Hopkins University. The total number of reported US deaths linked to the disease now exceeds 780,000, which is more than twice 2020’s death toll of 385,343. And, this is despite the blessing we received of safe and effective vaccines being widely available in 2021.
Michigan is experiencing its worst surge yet, with new daily cases doubling since early November. During Thanksgiving week, 1 in 10 of new US cases were located in Michigan.
New Hampshire and Minnesota are also reporting surging cases. Massachusetts is coping with a surge in Covid hospitalizations by stopping elective procedures.
Upstate New York hospitals are overwhelmed with Covid patients. The governor declared an emergency, and National Guard troops are being deployed to assist.
Many companies were planning to return workers to the office in January. Now, Google and others are delaying that indefinitely, due to Omicron.
In Texas, the current positivity test rate is 9%, up from 7% 2 weeks ago. We are averaging 4,000 new cases and 70 deaths daily. As of now, there are 3,500 Texans hospitalized for Covid-19. In the last 2 weeks, cases have increased 14%, hospitalizations rose 6%, and deaths are down 14%.
El Paso is experiencing a surge, with many ICUs full of unvaccinated Covid patients. The Panhandle is also surging.
Vaccinations–the safe path to herd immunity
Worldwide, 7.8 billion shots have been given, with nearly 43% of the planet’s population fully vaccinated.
Germany has locked down UNvaccinated people, banning them from non-essential travel, shopping, etc.
Greece now bars UNvaccinated citizens from entry to all enclosed public spaces, including restaurants, bars, gyms, cinemas and museums. The country’s death rate is twice the EU average.
EU leaders are considering a vaccine mandate, to combat the current surge raging throughout Europe.
In the US, 60% of the entire population is fully vaccinated; 70% of adults are fully vaccinated. On average, we are averaging around 1,700,000 shots per day, including boosters. About 44 million booster shots have been given.
The threat of the Omicron variant has strengthened the case for booster shots. The CDC upgraded its November advisory from allowing them to urging Americans to get boosters right away.
Also, Omicron seems to have scared some reluctant people into getting vaccinated after all. Shots were given last week at a high rate not seen since last May. On Dec. 2 alone, over 2.2 million shots went into arms.
The good—no, great—news is that fully vaccinated people are safe from serious illness and death. However, age matters. Studies show that, in the rare cases of breakthrough infections, ZERO fully vaccinated people UNDER AGE 50 died in 2021. For fully vaccinated people UNDER AGE 65, less than 1% died. Now, people older than that—in their 70s and up—are more vulnerable, as are people of any age who are immune-compromised.
As of the Nov. 22 deadline of Pres. Biden’s mandate, over 90% of federal workers received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine. The vast majority of the remaining workers have exemptions granted or in process.
More companies, large and small, are following Delta’s lead and charging UNvaccinated employees a hefty surcharge for health insurance. This reflects the huge cost of Covid treatment and hospitalization.
In Texas, only 55% of all residents and 66% of adults are fully vaccinated.
Recent Covid articles I recommend….
3 Questions We Must Answer About the Omicron Variant 11/27/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/27/opinion/omicron-variant-questions-coronavirus.html
South Africa detects a new variant 11/25/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/25/world/variant-south-africa-covid.html
The Latest Covid Surge 11/23/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/23/briefing/us-covid-surge-thanksgiving.html