Reflections of an Old Man

"Hi, My name is Harry and you are my host. I feel the same way you do: Live a long life and reproduce to the best of my ability. Let's get along and treat each other with respect. I don't want to kill you and my offspring inside your dying body, so I have decided to stay away from your lungs and hang out in your airways instead. That way I can quickly jump from one of you to the next one without putting you into isolation in a hospital, because you can still breathe without much difficulty. I'm OK, you're OK. We get along." Reply: " That works for me too Harry; gives me time to figure out how to get along with you so that you can fit in with all the gazillion other critters that live inside me. Welcome to the family"

Right now, at Christmas 2021, the COVID Omicron variant is having a field day in the Earth's human population with health authorities across the world pushing the panic button. I think this might be the beginning of the end of the pandemic with so many being infected that the bug will run out of fuel within a fairly short time frame. Not unlike what happened during the 1918-20 flu pandemic. The pattern of the 2019 - 21? pandemic is very similar, giving me a sense of optimism for life to return to normal next year. History has a tendency to repeat itself and Omicron might be a blessing in disguise.

  Op Ed by Helge Nome    December 20, 2021 In the past, as today, the majority of humanity tends to end up corralled into functional units like nation-states and all manner of organizations within nation-states. Power structures form within which individuals take their places and seek to enhance their power to control and influence other people. The outcome of this process invariably give a very small number of people a high degree of control over the vast majority to their ultimate detriment. Historically, "The Company" exercised a sense of ownership of its employees and treated them accordingly, not unlike slave owners did in their day.  Today, employees have more flexibility than in the past, but alas, there is a new shepherd on the block, looking to assemble his own flock: Megacorp.  This dude wants to create the "Metaverse" where he can control the behaviour of those that immerse themselves in his creation while under the illusion of creating their own world. L

Tensions between Russia and the US have been steadily building lately, over the question of Ukraine and its application for membership in NATO. Russia sees such a development as unacceptable right on its border and within its sphere of influence. Ukraine, on the other hand, sees it as a necessity and deterrent against being bullied by Russia. As it turns out, Ukraine has powerful allies in the US that are prepared to use their political influence on the US government to get their way, even if it involves military action against Russia in the region. The Russians see themselves as having the military advantage if a decision is made to invade Ukraine and could quickly occupy that state if they choose to do so. Who blinks first? If nobody does we will all be paying for it.