Learned a few interesting geographic facts about the nation of Kiribati in the Pacific Ocean from Brilliantmaps, Reddit and of course Wikipedia the other day and found the timezone oddity particularly interesting. The country is “the furthest ahead of Greenwich meantime at GMT +14, making it the first country in the world to ring-in the New Year. This was done to keep the working week the same for entire country and not have it split over the international date line.”
Here are 10 more interesting facts on the Republic of Kiribati (source Wikipedia):
Located in the central Pacific Ocean, Kiribati is made up of 33 atolls and reef islands, only 21 of which are inhabited.
It has only 103,500 people making it the 197th most populous country on earth.
Over 90% of the population lives on the Gilbert Islands, with nearly 50% living on Tarawa.
The country includes Christmas Island which is written as Kiritimati in the Kiribati language but pronounced the same as Christmas.
Kiritimati is the largest coral atoll in the world and makes up about half of Kiribati’s land area.
Tarawa Atoll and others Gilbert islands were invaded by the Japanese in December 1941 and liberated by the Americans 2 years later in November 1943 in the Battle of Tarawa.
The country only gained its full independence from the United Kingdom on July 12th, 1979.
Most of the islands and atolls are only 1-2 meters (3-6 feet) above sea level, with the highest point just 81 m; (266 ft) above sea level.
To counter the very real risk of the entire country disappearing beneath the waves within the next 50 years, Kiribati is in talks to buy 5,000 acres from Fiji where they can start relocating people.
Well it looks like COVID19’s BA.5 subvariant has found us … or we found it. Fortunately for us, we have been vaccinated and at least I have one of the boosters … so hopefully the more serious and severe illness seen by many can be avoided.
As of my writing (over the weekend) the symptoms have been exactly as described by several online medical sources: “symptoms of BA.5 are similar to previous COVID variants: fever, runny nose, coughing, sore throat, headaches, muscle pain and fatigue.”
I noticed it first, but home tested negative initially, and then positive as my “summer cold” (cough, cough) got worse. I did not have a fever (or at least not yet) but Brenda who didn’t show symptoms until a day or two after me does have a fever. We contemplated calling our PCP to see about a Paxlovid Rx, but since we tested positive Friday night, we made the excuse that it was the weekend and would see how it goes. So far so good; we’ll use this as an excuse to lay-low and rest.
As someone who is not fond of both painting and caulking, whenever there are professional tips that make those jobs easier, I listen(a better “dripless” caulking guns link too).
This past weekend I started what is going to be a slow, but deliberative process of moving out of the basement and back into the upstairs home office. No window blinds yet, but we did move the oriental rug from our first floor to the upstairs (Brenda would like to get something new for the Great Room). It looks great in the office and deadens the echo sound a little bit.
When I moved out and started the updates, I didn’t realized just how long it would be … or just how much I would enjoy working out of the cooler basement … BUT, the new set up is very nice too and I am doing my utmost NOT to fill it back up with 20-30 years of home office junk. I will eventually get my maps and nautical charts up on the cork wall and try to rotate a few(1) of my grandmother’s(2)many(3), many(4), paintings(5)(Ruth Bluhm) as well as a couple from my great Uncle Ray Grathwol, but I’m in no rush to hang them.
A couple of years ago, Googleannounced that its Chrome Browser would start phasing out their support for “third party tracking cookies.” Users concerned about privacy and data tracking from their web browsing have tried over the years to use add-ons and extensions to block or prevent Chrome from using them. Some of us switch browsers assuming some are better than others when it comes to privacy, but usability with blockers on some sites is often compromised … so having a company like Google phasing out support for invasive cookies was a promising announcement.
Unfortunately this week Google Privacy Sandbox posted a delay stating “we now intend to begin phasing out third-party cookies in Chrome in the second half of 2024” to allow more time for testing.
A bit of news from my son Taylor who has decided to buy a condo in Cincinnati rather than renting a few blocks away. He has been looking for a while now and pondered a house vs property vs urban condo or townhouse. Escalating prices since the pandemic turned and rising rates in both lending and rent has made this a bit more of a priority – he still really loves his current apartment.
Eventually looking has turned to making a offer … although with bidding wars results in disappointment … but this time his offer was accepted. We are excited for him and looking forward to his continued goal of being part of the Cincinnati Renaissance.
Eventually I’ll get to part 3 of our familyCanadian Rockies 40th Anniversary trip (post-trip nightmare, part 1 and part 2), but for now I’ll archive a few photos from this past week’s babysitting trip to Perrysburg. COVID has made its way through the Oostra family after their trip … likely the herding through the airports and lines while traveling. The assumption is that Ellerie spread it to Katelyn and then Katelyn to Drew, who seemed to struggle the most with fever, etc. Thankfully, he was able to work from home for a couple days utilizing video visits with his patients. They all pulled through, but eventually Annalyn succumbed to a mild case too. Katelyn needed to get back to work so Brenda and I drove up to watch the girls (they both seemed fully recovered, but needed to isolate to avoid exposing others?)
An especially “cool” Jimmy Buffett concert in Cincinnati, Ohio was enjoyed by Taylor’s Megan and her Parrothead father Dave. As usual (except thru COVID), they were at the annual Riverbend concert and enjoyed the up close and personal and more intimate side of the concert.
Dave Schnieder, a Cincinnati teacher and football coach all of his life, has worked concert security at Riverbend and over the years has established a fond relationship with Jimmy Buffett and Mac McAnally. He has also “corrupted” (humor) his daughter into enjoying Jimmy Buffett’s music and showmanship as have many parents … and now grandparents over the years (we are no long talking “Pirate looks at Forty” or 50 or 60 anymore).
And what fan wouldn’t like having Jimmy give you his wristband after the concert?
Megan was kind enough …or just loved rubbing in the evening 😉 … to share a few photos a a video (below) from the night. The photo below stood out as I can clearly remember buying the Coconut Telegraph vinyl album in 1981! Ah, Music memories!
Learned a few interesting geographic facts about the nation of Kiribati in the Pacific Ocean from Brilliantmaps, Reddit and of course Wikipedia the other day and found the timezone oddity particularly interesting. The country is “the furthest ahead of Greenwich meantime at GMT +14, making it the first country in the world to ring-in the New Year. This was done to keep the working week the same for entire country and not have it split over the international date line.” 
