AMERICAN TO U.S. -- PIP WATCH -- RUMORS

AMERICAN TO U.S.   

In an earlier post I noted an American teacher, John McGory, originally from Westerville, Ohio (a community north of Columbus near where we bought our first house) who was living in Wuhan China had blogged about his experience living in the city where the Coronavirus emerged.   He had been unable to exit the city on the first evacuation flight.  He described with photos the vacant streets of Wuhan, possible issues getting food, his concern for free expression limitations in what he could safely write about the situation due to Chinese laws. 

John’s last blog post at American Speech Company the end of January revealed he was uncertain as to the circumstances of his future life there, if he would have to remain, what that might mean,  or if he would be able to leave.  I expected to follow any further posts he might write, but there were none. 

Finally, on February 4^th I found McGory’s updated post on Amazon where his book is listed.  He describes the frantic experience when the second evacuation plane he had arranged to take was cancelled in a post titled:  “Humans not statistics”  as he prepared for another evacuation flight.

“Real information remains scarce while rumors explode.”  He noted:  “We have to get our own transportation to an airport 40 miles away in a city with numerous army-patrolled stops along the way.  The Chinese want to know everything about the drivers taking us to the airport.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they put them in isolation for two weeks.   I’m trying to keep a wait-and-see attitude about the flight tonight.  Hope and fear, both cruel imposters, are best avoided.”

John made his flight touching down in San Diego at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar on Wednesday, February 5^th with 166 other passengers as reported in the Los Angeles Times.  We do know those passengers are quarantined to monitor for Coronavirus symptoms.  I have been unable to locate any more current reports about John McGory's status.

Monday, Feb. 17th Up Date:
John McGory continues to be free of the Coronavirsus when tested in San Diego he reported in an interview I heard on the radio this morning.  He happily looks forward to going to Ohio when he's cleared to leave Miramar Air Station.

PIP WATCH

Freezing weather in our Big Bear Mountains is reported to have likely delayed the Bald Eagles two eggs expected beginning to hatch with pipping from inside the shell from around Valentine’s Day until possibly today(Sun.)  or  coming weekdays.  The 5x4x3ft nest has been subjected to some high winds in the 120ft Jeffrey Pine Evergreen tree at the 7000 feet elevation – thought to be the highest known Bald Eagle nest.  

Live Cam:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB

The eggs are on pip watch for signs of the eggs beginning to crack open which is a slow process of many hours once it starts.  I recall when we had regular and bantam chickens, ducks, that we weren't supposed to help them out of the egg shell.  If the baby bird doesn’t have the strength to continue pecking their shell open to emerge independently, they likely will not survive.  

If an egg has not been fertilized the parents may continue to sit on it, sometimes up to more than 2 months or until it begins to disintegrate.  Reportedly there is no reason to be concerned about these eggs until the 42^nd day after they were laid which would be Wednesday the 19th if they haven’t begun to show pip signs.

Some nasty Ravens have periodically been unsuccessfully harassing the brooding parents to lure them from the nest in order to get to their eggs.  Whichever parental guard bird is off the nest is seen swooping about in the sky chasing the Ravens away. 

RUMORS AND SOCIAL MEDIA

I hope people in the U.S. avoid being influenced by any Coronavirus alarmist false rumors.  There have been rumor problems deteriorating into a few racist discrimination incidents in Southern California, but efforts are ongoing to eliminate them.      

Social media sites are also reported to be a primary source of circulating false rumors, creating hysteria and conspiracy theories on all sorts of topics. Even in chat room sites those with moderators must screen out such sincere but uninformed comments as well as those of individuals who deliberately do so for effect.  Such responsible screening seems to be more than some sites will assume responsibility for doing.  

Unfortunately our very own President has been guilty of spreading untruths and conspiracy theories since before he was even a candidate for the office he now holds and has continued doing so.

Foreign infiltration on some of these sites has especially focused on our political and controversial social issues with bot comments created to inflame all points of view intended to incite us against each other.  If only we would not succumb to such efforts to undermine our democratic republic and would instead unify in peaceful tolerance of our differences. 

We might wonder if the benefits of social media outweigh the deficits due to those who abuse it. What do you think?