It’s Never Ending!

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XBB or Gryphon is a new class of Omicron variants (ie: COVID-19 subvariant) that’s coming from China. It includes BQ.1.1, BQ.1, BQ.1.3, BA.2.3.20, and XBB. This new variant (XBB) is thought to have the best ability to evade antibody protections of these newly emerged COVID variants, according to a pre-print study from researchers in China.

That study said that the new strains of Omicron, and XBB in particular, “are the most antibody-evasive strain tested, far exceeding BA.5 and approaching SARS-CoV-1 level.” Meaning, the vaccine and having previously had COVID-19 are not thought to offer the same level of protection against XBB as they have with previous strains of COVID-19.

Antibody drugs like Evusheld and bebtelovimab may also not be very effective against XBB, the study says.

“These variants are evolving to evade protection. The bivalent booster is “likely going to be protective against severe disease” with XBB but will be “imperfect against preventing infection.

Don’t panic, though they say. “When it comes to evasion of vaccine protection, it’s important to recognize that vaccine protection is not all or none.” “Even with immune-evasive variants, vaccine protection against what matters most—severe disease—remains intact.”

Discover Scuba Class

Scuba

Usually during the first months of the new year, Wolfs Marine in Benton Harbor, MI presents a “Discover Scuba” class to provide those with an interest in trying Scuba, a taste to see if diving would meet their expectations.

Wolf also uses this time as an opportunity for those already certified a winter an opportunity to dive in a controlled environment, meaning clean, clear, and relatively warm water.

Members of the local Michigan Underwater Divers Club (or MUD Club), encourage divers to use this opportunity to check out their diving gear and refresh their skills.

Individually most divers will practice their fin kicks, like the Flutter kick and frog kicks which is used to minimize stilling up the bottom, then there is working on their trim and buoyancy as they swim thru hula hoops suspended at different levels.  Many will practice doffing their equipment in the deep end, then surfacing and diving down back down to donning their equipment while sitting on the bottom.  Flooding and clearing their mask and even swimming around with no mask.

Getting in the Air

Fly Days

Well, I had gone flying earlier in the month and there was no snow here in SW Michigan – highly  unusual for this time of year. But right now it’s sunny and a “freezing your butt off” day with snow and freezing temperatures!  So with the snow clouds gone, the sun out,  and a density altitude of minus 3600 ft, I had to get into the air.

One Day Gone

Feelings & Expressions

Gone the frenzy of the day, the loosening of the hand clutching at my side. Is it real, or did it happen, was there happiness at my side? Will I remember well tomorrow of today and yesteryear gone or will time steal away the memory or lock it deep inside. Even now but with one day past, memory fades and thoughts don’t last, like burning embers glowing softly, how much longer will memories last?

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