#Home Nursing in Johannesburg

[themovenurseson]

Home Nursing in Durban| Nurses on the Move

Home Nursing in Durban - Nurses on the Move provides professional and compassionate home nursing services in Durban, South Africa. Our team of qualified and experienced nurses offers personalized care to patients in the comfort of their own homes, ensuring their health and well-being are prioritized. From wound care and medication management to palliative care and post-operative support, our home nursing services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual patient. Trust Nurses on the Move for reliable and trusted home nursing care in Durban. Contact us today to learn more.

[mybeingthere]

I am reposting interesting works by Sue Spargo, who was born in South Africa. A nurse in Johannesburg before starting her global journey, Spargo is a self-taught quilter and designer, who has learned from others and taught both at home and in many parts of the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and a little bit in Europe. Portugal is her next destination, she revealed.

She started her company Folk-art Quilts, Inc. in 2002 in the basement of her home where she embarked on quilting, layering and embroidering wool.

[cazzyf1]

Some of my favourite quotes from David Benson's 'Hunt v Lauda'

'He was nursing a toy yellow-eyed gorilla which made alarming noises and clapped a pair of cymbals attached to its hand.

"Whats with the gorilla?"

James looked tired. "It's called smiler. Alistair and Teddy gave it to me to celebrate my championship."

Teddy smiled benignly: "The gorilla was not very popular in first-class lounge I'm afraid."

"No," said James, "and they wouldn't let me blow my whistle either." He produced a police whistle and blew it.' - p7

"When we boarded the plane, he (James Hunt) insisted on joining mechanics in touring class until the lights were turned down for passengers to sleep." - p8

"Niki had always wanted to marry Mariella but she had refused to do so until he had become world champion." - p21

"The unsuspecting young actress Marlene Knaus was going to endure a trial that few women, even with a tremendously experienced and well-founded background, could have endured." - p21

"I telephoned James Hunt in Johannesburg where he is preparing for the South African Grand Prix. He told me, "I have been in daily contact with Susy and am fully informed about what is going on. I wouldn't stop her getting a divorce. I am trying to help her as much as I can so that she makes the right decisions. Obviously if she wanted to come back to me, I would help her do that." - p40

"I walked out of the dinning-room to an annexe alongside it, and sitting in the corner with a lady I didn't know was Niki Lauda; he smiled and asked a Carol and me to join him for a cup of coffee. He introduced the girl alongside him very simply, "This is my lady," She was, of course, Marlene Knaus, a very beautiful girl, with her hair in a rather severe style, brushed back, and a bun on the top of her head. We had a long chat about seat belts - both were empathetically in favour (that evening the house of commons in the UK were debating on making seatbelts in cars compulsory) - but the important thing was that I established a friendly relationship with Marlene when other people on the racing circuit cold-shouldered her, thinking she was merely some local pick-up. In fact, she and Niki were planning to get married as soon as they flew back from South Africa." - p44

"The main topic of conversation was the break-up of the long relationship between Niki Lauda and Mariella. Helen (Stewart) offered, with the best possible intentions, to get in touch with both Mariella and Niki is necessary to heal the breach. Having seen how close Niki and Marlene were in South Africa, I doubted if this were possible. As it turned out, a day after we had our discussion in Nina's home, Niki went quietly to a register office near Vienna and married Marlene." - p47

"He tried awfully hard not to hurt me." - (Susy about James) - p58

"James was standing right alongside me. Tears welling in his eyes. "It's stupid," he said, "It does not affect the performance of the car or make it any faster. Not even the Ferrari team protested and they were the ones who have the most to win..." - p62

"It was in triumph, therefore, that Hunt, six weeks before his 29th birthday, left for Britain in preparation for the John Player Grand Prix at Brands Hatch. With good humour and in high spirits, he took part in an event before the race and revealed another facet in his talents. It was at the Albert Hall at the Grand Prix Night of the Stars, a concert in aid of the Graham Hill Memorial Fund. The hall was packed with evening-suited celebrities who had paid up to £500 for a private box. Hunt was introduced by astronomer Patrick Moore who had just done a soft-shoe shuffle. Suddenly, Moore reached for a trumpet left behind on the bandstand by Chris Barber, who had done an earlier turn. "You're supposed to be good at blowing your own trumpet," he said, "so try this one." The audience dutifully laughed expecting a knockabout comedy turn. But Hunt took the trumpet, the studio band started to play and Hunt's clear, clean notes echoed through the vast auditorium. It was a memorable moment. When the audience realised that Hunt was playing for real, they roared their approval and then sat in silence as James plaved like a professional. Hunt's brother, Peter told me later: "I had a hell of a job convincing the BBC, who were recording the show, that James really was a good enough trumpet player to perform on TV. He learned to play at about 12 or 13 when he was at Wellington. He was in the school orchestra and the school band and played solo at concerts. Stuart Turner, Public Affairs Director of Ford of Britain, had a box at the Albert Hall. He turned to me after Hunt had finished his solo and said: "Now I have seen everything: James Hunt playing the trumpet at the Albert Hall we'll have Niki Lauda doing a comedy act next." - p73-4

"Niki himself, having almost killed himself in a first-lap accident there in 1974, has always campaigned against the Nurenburgring. He argued that the 1976 German Grand Prix should be switched to the Hockenheim Ring, a purpose-built circuit with outstanding safety facilities installed after the death there of Jim Clark in 1968. But Lauda was reviled by the Germans for his attempt. In practise at Nürburgring spectators displayed a huge poster of Lauda and his car. Across it was written, 'Lauda 20 kilometres per hour. Aus.' Ring bystanders are hard on anyone threatening the thrill of the race." - p80

"Sunday's race day was altogether depressing from the start. The young American driver Brett Lunger had heard the night before that his father had died unexpectedly in the United States and Brett decided to stay and go on with the race before returning home. It was to be a vital decision in the saving of Niki Lauda's life." - p81

"Jackie had a remarkable story to tell that Niki's agents had telephoned him soon after the crash and asked him to appear at a promotion for a new line of jeans which were being marketed in Niki's name. Jackie refused, saying he would only appear with Niki's permission. Niki was telephoned and they were told that he was determined to be there himself." - p86-7

"What would the situation be if Niki was fit to drive and Ferrari still wouldn't come to the track?" I asked Alastair, without hesitation he replied: "We will lend him a car so he and James can fight it out." - p89

"Then Niki arrived in his Jaguar with Marlene and Willi Dungl, his masseur/confidant, the man responsible for building Niki up physically in preparation for the race. There was a last-minute panic when it was discovered that Dungl had left his passport back at the house but he had an identity card and Niki knew that with Ferrari influence we would have no trouble getting Willi into Italy. Niki insisted on carrying out all the check-out procedures himself and we made a beautiful take off from Salzburg Airport." - p95

"At one point I was asked if I wanted to see a priest. So I said: "OK." He came in, and gave me my last rites - crossed my shoulder - and said "Goodbye My friend". I nearly had a heart attack! I wanted someone to help me live in this world, and not pass into the next." - p98

"I was watching his wife Marlene's eyes as she protectively, solicitously, studied her husband. She seemed almost proud of his scarred features." - p101

"A beautiful elegant grey/green-eyed young woman by the name of Marlene Knaus enjoyed life of a promising screen actress and model. A member of one of the most respected families in Austria she fitted easily into the jet set world of show business. She moved easily too in the rarefield world of medicine in which her grandfather was a renowned gynaecologist and in the artistic circles into which she was born as the daughter of a famous painter." - p101

"I used to smoke maybe one or two cigarettes a day, but from the time of the accident I have become a chain smoker. I know that this is not good for my health but it helps me through the crisis." Niki does not smoke and he says that this fact helped him recover from his lung injuries, but he does not reprove Marlene for smoking." - p102

"Marlene is a delightfully warm person. Her handshake is firm. Her eyes are steady and constant. They are the eyes of a woman who could inspire a man to great things, and she likes to touch the person that she is talking to. She looks at her husbands scarred face and gently strokes it." - p103

"Hunt, who had trotted through the driving rain along the length of the pits to salute the supreme courage of his world title rival Niki Lauda." - p104

"I just wish there bad been no accident, no disqualifications, no aggrevation, and Niki and I were fighting it out fair and square on the track. After what Niki has achieved, he deserves that at least. What Ferrari have done is to devalue the world championship and to cloud Niki's brave recovery. His recovery is absolutely amazing and he really is fit again." - p125

"His wife Marlene was happy with his decision. She had said earlier; "When he got into the car and drove away, I wanted to throw myself in front of it and stop him." - p140

"All Hunt knew was that he had to pass everything in sight. It took him two laps to catch and pass Alan Jones in the Surtees. Now he was fourth. Almost on the same bend he came upon Regazzoni in the Ferrari. Would the Swiss Italian let him through or hold him back? Ostentatiously Rega moved over and waved Hunt through ar a point where the Ferrari pit could clearly see his manoeuvre. As Rega passed his pit he gave them the two finger sign to show his disapproval that he had been dropped from the team for 1977." - p142

[brookston]

Holidays 10.9

Holidays

Abolition Day (Saint Barthelemy)

Buckwheat Day (French Republic)

CATober 9th

Commonwealth Cultural Day (Northern Mariana Islands)

Community Day (Spain)

Constitution Day (Sint Maarten)

Curious Events Day

Day of National Honor (a.k.a. Day of Dignity; Peru)

Earth Science Literacy Day

Felicitas Asteroid Day

Fire Prevention Day (Canada, US)

Fungus Day

Give Peace a Chance Day

Global Work From Home Day

Hangul Day (a.k.a. Korean Alphabet Day; South Korea)

Indian Foreign Service Day (India)

Instant Karma Day

International Subscription Day

International Walk & Bike to School Day

Leif Erikson Day (Iceland, Norway; Minnesota, Wisconsin)

Magic Lantern Day

Manhattan Project Day

Messenger Appreciation Day

Mop Fair (Tewkesbury, England)

National Absentee Ballot Day

National Chess Day (Original Date)

National Class Ring Day

National C60 Day

National Dance Marathon Day

National Day Commemorating the Holocaust (a.k.a. Ziua Nationala de Comemorare a Holocaustului; Romania)

National Day Without Stigma

National Digitool Day

National Heritage Day (Turks and Caicos)

National Nanotechnology Day

National Send a Booty Pic Day

National Sneakers Day

Nautilus Night

Naval Forces Day (Turkmenistan)

Pans/Pandas Awareness Day

Puerto Rico Friendship Day (Virgin Islands)

Realtor’s Day (Ukraine)

Region of Valencia Day (Spain)

Samitinget Establishment Day (Norway)

Scrubs Day

Steam Calliope Day

Strawberry Fields Day

Tavistock Goose Fair (Devon, England)

Valencian Community Day (Valencia, Spain)

World PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day

World Post Day (UN)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Beer and Pizza Day

Canadian Beer Day

International Beer and Pizza Day

National Moldy Cheese Day

National Polenta Day (Italy)

Submarine-Hoagie-Hero-Grinder Day

Yukon Gold Potato Day

Independence & Related Days

Cambodia (Declares Itself a Republic, Changes Name to Khmer; 1970)

Frivia (Declared; 2019) [unrecognized]

Guayaquil Independence Day (Ecuador)

Hobart (Founded; Tasmania; 1804)

Malvern (l.k.a. Malvern and Roslyn; Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Republic of Skovaji (Declared; 2014) [unrecognized]

Uganda (from UK, 1962)

Union of Piedmont (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

2nd Wednesday in October

Bring Your Teddy Bear to Work Day [2nd Wednesday]

Emergency Nurses Day [2nd Wednesday]

Energy Star Day [2nd Wednesday]

Health Cares About Domestic Violence Day [2nd Wednesday]

Hump Day [Every Wednesday]

International Day For Natural Disaster Reduction (Hawaii) [2nd Wednesday]

International Top Spinning Day [2nd Wednesday]

National Bring Your Teddy Bear to Work & School Day [2nd Wednesday]

National Curves Day [2nd Wednesday]

National Fossil Day [2nd Wednesday]

National Pet Obesity Day [2nd Wednesday]

National Stop Bullying Day [2nd Wednesday]

National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day [Wednesday of 2nd Full Week]

Sauerkraut Day (North Dakota) [2nd Wednesday]

Stem Cell Awareness Day [2nd Wednesday]

Stop America's Violence Everywhere (a.k.a. SAVE) Today [2nd Wednesday]

Wacky Wednesday [Every Wednesday]

Website Wednesday [Every Wednesday]

Walk & Roll to School Day [2nd Wednesday]

Watermelon Wednesday [2nd Wednesday of Each Month]

Workout Wednesday [2nd Wednesday of Each Month]

Weekly Holidays beginning October 9 (1st Full Week of October)

National Fire Prevention Week [Week of 10.9]

World Rainforest Week (thru 10.14)

Festivals Beginning October 9, 2024

BFI London Film Festival (London, United Kingdom) [thru 10.20]

Film Fest Gent (Ghent, Belgium) [thru 10.20]

Paraty International Literary Festival [FLIP] (Paraty, Brazil) [thru 10.13]

South Carolina State Fair (Columbia, South Carolina) [thru 10.20]

WOMAD (Johannesburg, South Africa) [thru 10.13]

Feast Days

Abraham the Patriarch (Christian; Saint)

Andronicus and Athanasia (Christian; Saints)

Atilla the Hun Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Bill Tidy (Artology)

The Count (Muppetism)

Curious Events Holiday (Shamanism)

Day of Tuonela (Pagan)

Demetrius of Alexandria (Christian; Saint)

Denis (Christian; Saint)

Denis Ghislain (Christian; Saint)

Dionysius the Areopagite (Christian; Saint)

Divine Wisdom Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Domninus (Christian; Saint)

Felicitas (Old Roman Goddess of Good Luck & Joy)

Festival for Venus (Ancient Rome)

Frank Duveneck (Artology)

Ghislain (a.k.a. Guislain; Christian; Saint)

Innocencio of Mary Immaculate and Martyrs of Asturias (Christian; Saint)

Jaqueline Carey (Writerism)

Jean-Baptiste Regnault (Artology)

John Doubleday (Artology)

John Henry Newman (Christian; Saint)

John Leonardi (Christian; Saint)

Knot Day (Pastafarian)

Louis-Simon Boizot (Artology)

Luis Beltran (a.k.a. Louis Bertrand; Christian; Saint)

Mike Peters (Artology)

Nicholas Roerich (Artology)

Publia (Christian; Saint)

Robert Grosseteste (Church of England)

Roger Bacon (Positivist; Saint)

Savin (Christian; Saint)

Simeon Solomon (Artology)

Simon Drew (Artology)

Takayama Autumn Festival begins (Japan)

The Waters of Sul (Celtic Book of Days)

Wilfred Grenfell (Episcopal Church (USA))

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [47 of 57]

Premieres

Babe, by Styx (Song; 1979)

Big Top Scooby-Doo! (WB Animated Film; 2012)

Boulder Wham! (WB MM Cartoon; 1965)

The Boy Bounders or Plane Punchy (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S2, Ep. 61; 1960)

Buzzard Bait or The Carrion Call (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S4, Ep. 167; 1962)

Carry On, Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse (Novel; 1925)

Couples Retreat (Film; 2009)

Dance Dance Dance,, recorded by The Beach Boys (Song; 1964)

Holy Man (Film; 1998)

The Iceman Cometh, by Eugene O’Neill (Play; 1946)

Le Siège de Corinthe, by Gioachino Rossini (Opera; 1826)

Libeled Lady (Film; 1936)

Life Begins for Andy Panda (Andy Panda Cartoon; 1939)

Little Big Man, by Thomas Berger (Novel; 1964)

Little Einsteins (Animated TV Series; 2005)

Lucky Ducky (Tex Avery MGM Cartoon; 1948)

Microcosmos (Documentary Film; 1996)

Mogambo (Film; 1953)

The Mole Men, Parts 3 & 4 (Underdog Cartoon, S2, Eps. 7 & 8 1965)

NBC (Television Network; 1926)

Night Life of the Bugs (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1936)

The Olympic Champ (Disney Cartoon; 1942)

A Peek at the Peak or Your Climb is My Climb (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S2, Ep. 62; 1960)

Phantom of the Horse Opera (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1961)

Phantom of the Opera (Broadway Musical; 1986)

Prisoner of Love, recorded by Russ Columbo (Song; 1931)

Pursuit of the Po-Ho (Animated TV Show;Jonny Quest #4; 1964)

Rocky Rides Again or Small in the Saddle (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S4, Ep. 168; 1962)

Roof Top Razzle-Dazzle (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1964)

Rover’s Rival (WB LT Cartoon; 1937)

Rushmore (Film; 1998)

Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Movie)

Shaving Muggs (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1953)

Thomas & Friends (Animated UK TV Series; 1984)

Timewasters (BBC TV Series; 2017)

Under Siege (Film; 1992)

War Dogs (MGM Cartoon; 1943)

Wild Night, by Van Morrison (Song; 1971)

Today’s Name Days

Doings, Dionysius, Günter, Johannes, Sara (Austria)

Abraham, Dionizije, Sara (Croatia)

Sára, Štefan (Czech Republic)

Dionysius (Denmark)

Mariina, Riin, Riina, Riine (Estonia)

Ilona (Finland)

Denis (France)

Doings, Elfriede, Günter, Sara, Sibylle (Germany)

Avraam, Lot (Greece)

Dénes (Hungary)

Abramo, Dionigi, Ferruccio, Lorenzo, Sara (Italy)

Elga, Elgars, Helga (Latvia)

Dionizas, Virgailė (Lithuania)

Leidulf, Leif (Norway)

Arnold, Arnolf, Atanazja, Bogdan, Dionizjusz, Dionizy, Jan, Ludwik, Przedpełk (Poland)

Iacob (Romania)

Dionýz (Slovakia)

Abraham, Abrahán, Dionisio, Héctor, Juan, Luis, Sara (Spain)

Inger, Ingrid (Sweden)

Rebecca (Ukraine)

Denice, Denis, Denise, Dennis, Denny, Dion, Gunnar, Gunther, Leif (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 283 of 2024; 83 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of Week 41 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Gort (Ivy) [Day 11 of 28]

Chinese: Month 9 (Jia-Xu), Day 7 (Bing-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 7 Tishri 5785

Islamic: 5 Rabi II 1446

J Cal: 13 Orange; Sixthday [13 of 30]

Julian: 26 September 2024

Moon: 37%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 3 Descartes (11th Month) [Joachim / St. Bonaventura]

Runic Half Month: Gyfu (Gift) [Day 3 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 18 of 90)

Week: 1st Full Week of October

Zodiac: Libra (Day 17 of 30)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 10.9

Holidays

Abolition Day (Saint Barthelemy)

Buckwheat Day (French Republic)

CATober 9th

Commonwealth Cultural Day (Northern Mariana Islands)

Community Day (Spain)

Constitution Day (Sint Maarten)

Curious Events Day

Day of National Honor (a.k.a. Day of Dignity; Peru)

Earth Science Literacy Day

Felicitas Asteroid Day

Fire Prevention Day (Canada, US)

Fungus Day

Give Peace a Chance Day

Global Work From Home Day

Hangul Day (a.k.a. Korean Alphabet Day; South Korea)

Indian Foreign Service Day (India)

Instant Karma Day

International Subscription Day

International Walk & Bike to School Day

Leif Erikson Day (Iceland, Norway; Minnesota, Wisconsin)

Magic Lantern Day

Manhattan Project Day

Messenger Appreciation Day

Mop Fair (Tewkesbury, England)

National Absentee Ballot Day

National Chess Day (Original Date)

National Class Ring Day

National C60 Day

National Dance Marathon Day

National Day Commemorating the Holocaust (a.k.a. Ziua Nationala de Comemorare a Holocaustului; Romania)

National Day Without Stigma

National Digitool Day

National Heritage Day (Turks and Caicos)

National Nanotechnology Day

National Send a Booty Pic Day

National Sneakers Day

Nautilus Night

Naval Forces Day (Turkmenistan)

Pans/Pandas Awareness Day

Puerto Rico Friendship Day (Virgin Islands)

Realtor’s Day (Ukraine)

Region of Valencia Day (Spain)

Samitinget Establishment Day (Norway)

Scrubs Day

Steam Calliope Day

Strawberry Fields Day

Tavistock Goose Fair (Devon, England)

Valencian Community Day (Valencia, Spain)

World PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day

World Post Day (UN)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Beer and Pizza Day

Canadian Beer Day

International Beer and Pizza Day

National Moldy Cheese Day

National Polenta Day (Italy)

Submarine-Hoagie-Hero-Grinder Day

Yukon Gold Potato Day

Independence & Related Days

Cambodia (Declares Itself a Republic, Changes Name to Khmer; 1970)

Frivia (Declared; 2019) [unrecognized]

Guayaquil Independence Day (Ecuador)

Hobart (Founded; Tasmania; 1804)

Malvern (l.k.a. Malvern and Roslyn; Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Republic of Skovaji (Declared; 2014) [unrecognized]

Uganda (from UK, 1962)

Union of Piedmont (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

2nd Wednesday in October

Bring Your Teddy Bear to Work Day [2nd Wednesday]

Emergency Nurses Day [2nd Wednesday]

Energy Star Day [2nd Wednesday]

Health Cares About Domestic Violence Day [2nd Wednesday]

Hump Day [Every Wednesday]

International Day For Natural Disaster Reduction (Hawaii) [2nd Wednesday]

International Top Spinning Day [2nd Wednesday]

National Bring Your Teddy Bear to Work & School Day [2nd Wednesday]

National Curves Day [2nd Wednesday]

National Fossil Day [2nd Wednesday]

National Pet Obesity Day [2nd Wednesday]

National Stop Bullying Day [2nd Wednesday]

National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day [Wednesday of 2nd Full Week]

Sauerkraut Day (North Dakota) [2nd Wednesday]

Stem Cell Awareness Day [2nd Wednesday]

Stop America's Violence Everywhere (a.k.a. SAVE) Today [2nd Wednesday]

Wacky Wednesday [Every Wednesday]

Website Wednesday [Every Wednesday]

Walk & Roll to School Day [2nd Wednesday]

Watermelon Wednesday [2nd Wednesday of Each Month]

Workout Wednesday [2nd Wednesday of Each Month]

Weekly Holidays beginning October 9 (1st Full Week of October)

National Fire Prevention Week [Week of 10.9]

World Rainforest Week (thru 10.14)

Festivals Beginning October 9, 2024

BFI London Film Festival (London, United Kingdom) [thru 10.20]

Film Fest Gent (Ghent, Belgium) [thru 10.20]

Paraty International Literary Festival [FLIP] (Paraty, Brazil) [thru 10.13]

South Carolina State Fair (Columbia, South Carolina) [thru 10.20]

WOMAD (Johannesburg, South Africa) [thru 10.13]

Feast Days

Abraham the Patriarch (Christian; Saint)

Andronicus and Athanasia (Christian; Saints)

Atilla the Hun Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Bill Tidy (Artology)

The Count (Muppetism)

Curious Events Holiday (Shamanism)

Day of Tuonela (Pagan)

Demetrius of Alexandria (Christian; Saint)

Denis (Christian; Saint)

Denis Ghislain (Christian; Saint)

Dionysius the Areopagite (Christian; Saint)

Divine Wisdom Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Domninus (Christian; Saint)

Felicitas (Old Roman Goddess of Good Luck & Joy)

Festival for Venus (Ancient Rome)

Frank Duveneck (Artology)

Ghislain (a.k.a. Guislain; Christian; Saint)

Innocencio of Mary Immaculate and Martyrs of Asturias (Christian; Saint)

Jaqueline Carey (Writerism)

Jean-Baptiste Regnault (Artology)

John Doubleday (Artology)

John Henry Newman (Christian; Saint)

John Leonardi (Christian; Saint)

Knot Day (Pastafarian)

Louis-Simon Boizot (Artology)

Luis Beltran (a.k.a. Louis Bertrand; Christian; Saint)

Mike Peters (Artology)

Nicholas Roerich (Artology)

Publia (Christian; Saint)

Robert Grosseteste (Church of England)

Roger Bacon (Positivist; Saint)

Savin (Christian; Saint)

Simeon Solomon (Artology)

Simon Drew (Artology)

Takayama Autumn Festival begins (Japan)

The Waters of Sul (Celtic Book of Days)

Wilfred Grenfell (Episcopal Church (USA))

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [47 of 57]

Premieres

Babe, by Styx (Song; 1979)

Big Top Scooby-Doo! (WB Animated Film; 2012)

Boulder Wham! (WB MM Cartoon; 1965)

The Boy Bounders or Plane Punchy (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S2, Ep. 61; 1960)

Buzzard Bait or The Carrion Call (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S4, Ep. 167; 1962)

Carry On, Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse (Novel; 1925)

Couples Retreat (Film; 2009)

Dance Dance Dance,, recorded by The Beach Boys (Song; 1964)

Holy Man (Film; 1998)

The Iceman Cometh, by Eugene O’Neill (Play; 1946)

Le Siège de Corinthe, by Gioachino Rossini (Opera; 1826)

Libeled Lady (Film; 1936)

Life Begins for Andy Panda (Andy Panda Cartoon; 1939)

Little Big Man, by Thomas Berger (Novel; 1964)

Little Einsteins (Animated TV Series; 2005)

Lucky Ducky (Tex Avery MGM Cartoon; 1948)

Microcosmos (Documentary Film; 1996)

Mogambo (Film; 1953)

The Mole Men, Parts 3 & 4 (Underdog Cartoon, S2, Eps. 7 & 8 1965)

NBC (Television Network; 1926)

Night Life of the Bugs (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1936)

The Olympic Champ (Disney Cartoon; 1942)

A Peek at the Peak or Your Climb is My Climb (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S2, Ep. 62; 1960)

Phantom of the Horse Opera (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1961)

Phantom of the Opera (Broadway Musical; 1986)

Prisoner of Love, recorded by Russ Columbo (Song; 1931)

Pursuit of the Po-Ho (Animated TV Show;Jonny Quest #4; 1964)

Rocky Rides Again or Small in the Saddle (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S4, Ep. 168; 1962)

Roof Top Razzle-Dazzle (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1964)

Rover’s Rival (WB LT Cartoon; 1937)

Rushmore (Film; 1998)

Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Movie)

Shaving Muggs (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1953)

Thomas & Friends (Animated UK TV Series; 1984)

Timewasters (BBC TV Series; 2017)

Under Siege (Film; 1992)

War Dogs (MGM Cartoon; 1943)

Wild Night, by Van Morrison (Song; 1971)

Today’s Name Days

Doings, Dionysius, Günter, Johannes, Sara (Austria)

Abraham, Dionizije, Sara (Croatia)

Sára, Štefan (Czech Republic)

Dionysius (Denmark)

Mariina, Riin, Riina, Riine (Estonia)

Ilona (Finland)

Denis (France)

Doings, Elfriede, Günter, Sara, Sibylle (Germany)

Avraam, Lot (Greece)

Dénes (Hungary)

Abramo, Dionigi, Ferruccio, Lorenzo, Sara (Italy)

Elga, Elgars, Helga (Latvia)

Dionizas, Virgailė (Lithuania)

Leidulf, Leif (Norway)

Arnold, Arnolf, Atanazja, Bogdan, Dionizjusz, Dionizy, Jan, Ludwik, Przedpełk (Poland)

Iacob (Romania)

Dionýz (Slovakia)

Abraham, Abrahán, Dionisio, Héctor, Juan, Luis, Sara (Spain)

Inger, Ingrid (Sweden)

Rebecca (Ukraine)

Denice, Denis, Denise, Dennis, Denny, Dion, Gunnar, Gunther, Leif (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 283 of 2024; 83 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of Week 41 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Gort (Ivy) [Day 11 of 28]

Chinese: Month 9 (Jia-Xu), Day 7 (Bing-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 7 Tishri 5785

Islamic: 5 Rabi II 1446

J Cal: 13 Orange; Sixthday [13 of 30]

Julian: 26 September 2024

Moon: 37%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 3 Descartes (11th Month) [Joachim / St. Bonaventura]

Runic Half Month: Gyfu (Gift) [Day 3 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 18 of 90)

Week: 1st Full Week of October

Zodiac: Libra (Day 17 of 30)

[rimaakter45]

Employment Opportunities in Mpumalanga: A Gateway to South Africa's Workforce

Introduction:

Jobs in Mpumalanga, a province located in the eastern part of South Africa, is known for its breathtaking landscapes, abundant wildlife, and a growing economy. It offers a diverse range of job opportunities across various sectors, making it an attractive destination for job seekers.

Mining Industry:

Mpumalanga is renowned for its rich mineral resources, particularly coal and gold. The mining sector has historically been a significant employer in the region, providing jobs in various capacities. Coal mining, in particular, plays a pivotal role in the local economy. Job opportunities in this sector range from mine workers to engineers, geologists, and environmental specialists.

Agriculture:

Agriculture is another vital industry in Mpumalanga. The province's fertile soil and favorable climate support the cultivation of crops such as maize, citrus fruits, and subtropical fruits. This sector offers numerous job opportunities, including farm workers, agronomists, and agricultural engineers.

Tourism:

Mpumalanga's breathtaking scenery, with attractions like the Blyde River Canyon and Kruger National Park, makes it a popular tourist destination. Tourism plays a significant role in the local economy, offering employment in the hospitality sector, tour guiding, wildlife conservation, and various related services.

Manufacturing:

The province is home to several manufacturing facilities, ranging from food processing plants to automotive manufacturing. These facilities create job opportunities in production, quality control, and logistics, among others.

Education and Research:

Mpumalanga has a growing education sector with numerous schools, colleges, and universities. This sector provides employment for teachers, administrators, and support staff. Additionally, research institutions contribute to the development of the province and offer opportunities for researchers, scientists, and academics.

Healthcare:

The healthcare sector in Mpumalanga is growing, and this creates a demand for healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and healthcare administrators.

Government and Public Service:

Working for the government or public service is another avenue for job seekers in Mpumalanga. Positions are available in various departments, such as public administration, law enforcement, and social services.

Unique Charm of Mpumalanga:

Apart from the diverse job opportunities, Mpumalanga offers a unique lifestyle that many find appealing. Here are a few reasons why people are drawn to this province:

Natural Beauty:

Mpumalanga is a province of breathtaking natural beauty. It is home to the famous Panorama Route, featuring attractions like God's Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes, and the Three Rondavels. The province's lush forests and diverse wildlife also make it a paradise for nature lovers.

Outdoor Activities:

Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty of activities to enjoy in Mpumalanga, including hiking, biking, and birdwatching. The province's numerous reserves and parks offer opportunities for safaris, game drives, and other wildlife experiences.

Cultural Richness:

The province has a rich cultural heritage with a blend of indigenous and European influences. This cultural diversity is reflected in the food, music, and art found in Mpumalanga.

Proximity to Major Cities:

Mpumalanga is conveniently located near major South African cities like Johannesburg and Pretoria, making it accessible for those who want the best of both worlds – a serene lifestyle in the province and the conveniences of urban areas.

Challenges and Considerations:

While Mpumalanga offers numerous job opportunities and a beautiful lifestyle, it's important to consider a few challenges:

Housing: Housing shortages can be a concern in some areas, so it's advisable to plan for accommodation when considering a move to the province.

Rural vs. Urban: Job opportunities may vary between rural and urban areas. Consider your preferred location and the available job prospects.

Infrastructure: While infrastructure in Mpumalanga is improving, some remote areas may still lack essential services.

Conclusion

Mpumalanga is a province that combines the allure of natural beauty with a diverse range of job opportunities. Whether you're interested in mining, agriculture, tourism, education, or any other sector, this region has something to offer. However, it's crucial to consider the unique challenges and lifestyle factors that come with living and working in Mpumalanga. Overall, this province is a promising gateway to South Africa's workforce, and a place where one can truly enjoy the best of both worlds – a thriving career and a vibrant natural environment. Please visit here Jobs in Mpumalanga for more information.

[yalwacompany]

Volunteering in South Africa

Want to learn more about volunteering in South Africa? Check out our newest blog article!

Hello everyone!

It’s Alina & Malé here from Yalwa’s #Dating Team. Last year in December, we went to South Africa to volunteer for three weeks at Löwenmut, a children’s hospice and charity partner of Yalwa, and we would like to tell you more about our trip and what we experienced. 

Löwenmut is very special to everyone here at Yalwa. Yalwa has been supporting them since December 2021 by funding a new unit called Yalwa Ray. We have had multiple team members head out to South Africa to get stuck in first hand with the finalisation of the Yalwa Ray unit too - and now it’s our turn to tell you all about our experience on daily life here at the hospice. 

Before we begin with details about our trip, we wanted to tell you more about ourselves and why heading to Löwenmut in South Africa was important to us.

For Malé, this organisation is very close to her heart as back in her home country of Perú, a disabled girl has become a part of her family. Malé wanted to teach, learn from, bring joy and connect with other children around the world just like she has with the little girl back home. She felt truly connected to Löwenmut and its mission.

Alina has been raising money for Löwenmut’s Baby Saver since working at Yalwa - a safe space for abandoned babies to get a fresh start and be taken care of. She especially wanted to directly see the impact of her fundraising efforts from events she helped organise such as bake sales, see the new unit’s progress first-hand as well as get closer to the children and staff members. For her, It was so important to personally connect with the culture and people of Löwenmut.

Armed with our motivation, passion and excitement, immediately after landing in Johannesburg and arriving at the children’s hospice we were able to start getting to know the children and our way around the building. The realisation that this was going to be an extraordinary experience for us came already on this very first day: emotionally challenging - yes, but so rewarding! 

Due to the Christmas season, the kindergarden on site was closed during our whole stay, so we were solely focused on the children who had no families to go home to on Christmas, living permanently in the hospice. The nurses working at Löwenmut showed us the ropes, so we were able to help them in their typical day to day routine from day one. It consisted of feeding the children three times a day, and the rest of the day just spending time together and playing with them. 

The hospice has a small farm on their grounds with mini horses and goats, and the children love to be outside to meet and watch the animals, so we tried to take them out in the sun as much as possible. This was also our favorite part of the day, to see the kids so happy and enjoying the extra attention and affection. It was very rewarding and made us fear for the day we had to say goodbye, which would inevitably come.

When the weather wasn’t nice enough to go out, we stayed inside and were drawing some pictures together or just listening to music. Our days were always packed and filled with new impressions, which left us quite exhausted at the end of the day.

There was of course much more to discover in South Africa, so during the weekends we explored Johannesburg and the area nearby. The people were very welcoming and warm, so it was easy for us to make some new friends. Sam, the former manager of the children’s hospice, even invited us to his house to celebrate Christmas with his family and friends, which was an amazing experience and we felt very lucky being able to experience a traditional South African Christmas party.

Slowly, the sadness started creeping in, as we knew that our journey was coming to an end. We had taken the children to our hearts immediately from the very beginning and formed a strong bond with them, so it was a very hard and tearful goodbye on both sides - but we promised to be back!

Looking back, it was really a life changing experience for us. During those three weeks, we grew with new challenges, learned a lot and made memories we surely will never forget. We can strongly recommend the volunteer program to anyone who really wants to help where it is urgently needed! There is nothing more rewarding than being able to make a difference in those children’s lives and seeing their happiness.

At Yalwa, you are always encouraged to get stuck in and volunteer for our partner charities and organisations and you could be doing it next!

[indiejones]

GANDHI, THE FREEMASON? .. ALMOST CERTAINLY! :/

(This is based on evidence collected by Singh & Watson, in their book 'Gandhi Under Cross-Examination', openly available online).

(General Info About Freemasonry. 👇 https://gab.com/PanaceaPlethora/posts/110465556436981077 )

Here is Gandhi's South Africa Timeline, unequivocally mentioning how he spoke at a banquet in the Masonic Hall of Jepper Street, Johannesburg, on Feb 18, 1910, in honor of Rev. Doke, the same man who wrote (or jotted down) Gandhi's first biography 2 yrs prior in 1908.

The description of the gathering mentions how Mr. Hoskens, Chairman of Johannesburg European Committee & President of South Africa's Association of Chambers of Commerce, was in the Chair, ie officiating the meeting as 33 degree Grand Master of the Freemason Lodge, with Rev Doke on his right & Mrs Doke on his left. This occasion when husband & wife sit on either side of the Head (the Grand Master of the Freemason Lodge in this case), is generally said to happen anywhere when the man is being given a dedication ceremony or maybe a farewell.

It's in this ceremony, that Gandhi gives a speech whose entire text is withheld from the public which is the norm only with activities pertaining to Masonic Lodge members (it is famous around the world for long,for calling itself not a 'secret society' but a 'society with secrets', practically meaning, whose existence is known to everyone, but whose activities are not allowed to be known or made known. .... And that they would only provide a brief description of Gandhi's speech & explicitly withhold it's entire text (he mentioned about how, while speaking of Mr. Doke's Asiatic Work, the work of the European Committee needed to be commended in not allowing the Passive Resistance to break down, a passive resistance btw that also called for purposeful voluntary enrollment by Indians in the unconnected Britisher's war against native South Africans (who Gandhi would call 'kaafirs' just by that virtue) as those Britishers' own Ambulance Corps. ..... & That every other portion of his text is withheld & not known till today, means that it was essentially connected to 'secret Freemasonic work', obviously meaning that people on the dias would have to be high-ranking Freemasons, such high ranks only reached over long time, barring great exceptions.

Contrast that with the back story of the Gandhi-Doke acquaintance that Gandhi or his propaganda machine has doled out till today, namely that Gandhi was hit by a Muslim who suspected him of being a double agent *cough*, & was nursed to health by Mrs Doke, in her home, where met Joseph Doke for the first time in 1908! And such an impression that meeting had on him, that within just a few months became his greatest confidante & biggest defendant in all legal & political proceedings, this Pastor then even volunteering to become the editor-in-chief of his newspaper 'Indian Opinion' all in those 4 months!..and furthermore, this clearly shown-to-be enamored man also chosen to write the biography of the man he was enamored by & big friends with.

Which sounds plausible (leave aside ethical or non-ethical)?

Furthermore, there are records of actual correspondences btwn the ex-Viceroy of India Lord Ampthill & Gandhi, a cable sent to Ampthill in Dec 1913, referring to Mr. Hosken, the Grand Master of Jepper Street Lodge, as their backslapping colleague from some old boy's club, in connection with one of Gandhi's & Ampthill's jointly framed letter! The Viceroy of India was a close friend, even more, a personal confidante, of this young upstart activist taking the help of the people he is supposedly resisting at every stage, to then help them!

Does this modus-operandi sound familiar btw, Indians!

To the authors & me, this shows beyond any doubt, per this book & it's collected evidence, that Gandhi had become a 33 & highest degree Grand Master Freemason, & in such capacity, an equal of the Viceroy himself, atleast by early 1910s, & perhaps even earlier!

Also 👇 https://gab.com/PanaceaPlethora/posts/110476671167864572

III. If not enough, we have accounts from this book, reproducing portions from the only 20 of 120 pages left of Gandhi's date-wise maintained 'London Diary' written in 1888 when began his law education in London, that not me but expert ex-Freemasons confirm to being nothing but coded descriptions of his initiation to the early stages of Freemasonry, uptil 3 degree then!

1. https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/mahatma-karamchand-gandhi-timeline-1910-1919 2. https://disa.ukzn.ac.za/gandhi-luthuli-documentation-

3. https://www.tumblr.com/indiejones/719054903995203584/of-gandhis-most-mysterious-inexplicable-for?source=share

[nurturingfather44]

Egg Donors: Debunking Myths And What You Should Know

Our achievements are a direct reflection of your success, and we're wholeheartedly committed to providing the very best calibre of care to ensure a joyful conclusion to your journey toward overcoming infertility. We invite you to achieve out to us today to find extra concerning the comprehensive vary of providers we offer and to learn the way we can be your guiding gentle on the path to starting your cherished household. In many circumstances when treating cancer fertility clinic johannesburg, the treatment can injury the ovaries. Women with damaged or removed ovaries can typically still carry baby with the assistance of donor eggs. Our clinic has been successfully performing egg donation since 1999. Egg donation is usually recommended as a last resort of therapy for couples, however can be helpful to same-sex couples and single people wanting to become mother and father.

A being pregnant test via a blood sample is done on the tenth day after embryo switch to confirm the finish result. Egg retrieval takes place in the privacy of a specialized theatre at George Surgical Centre. The eggs are retrieved under ultrasound steerage under deep sedation, administered by an anaesthetist. After the process, you will be provided a cup of tea and a sandwich earlier than you go home.

These exams are to verify for any sexually transmitted infections, like HIV, hepatitis B, and C, and syphilis. After they cross these checks, they're referred to the social worker. After the completion of the data session, the recipients can begin the applying process by finishing a variety of types. The varieties present the donor bank egg donation with insight as to what the recipients are in search of within the donor and allows the donor bank to supply appropriate donor options. The donor bank will then provide the recipients with a quantity of profiles and the recipient can then resolve which donor they want to make use of.

It is our clinic’s coverage to solely treat lady as much as the age of 50 years with egg donation. To date we’ve built relationships with high fertility care experts who have been certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties. They are caring, nurturing, and understand essential of the journey they undertake on your behalf as surrogates. Medfem Fertility Clinic is proud to offer couples egg donation infertility treatment. We understand that egg donation just isn't a couple’s first alternative for conception and recognise the emotional funding within the course of. Our egg donation group of professionals strives to make the method confidential, safe and effective.

Using a needle attached to a catheter, the mature eggs are extracted. Your eggs are saved in tubes and freezing takes place by our highly expert embryologists. The aim is to develop and harvest roughly fertility clinic 15 – 20 eggs. Recent technological breakthroughs enable us to protect female fertility for later use, via egg freezing.

Our team of fertility specialists and nursing sisters will work with you to plan your remedy cycle. Egg or sperm donation can also be called collaborative copy or third-party copy, and the donors are normally anonymous or unrelated identified people. But if the donor is a sibling or cousin, the process known as familial gamete donation. “We additionally check out their physique mass index (BMI), they have to have a BMI of lower than 29. Potential donors additionally should stay in South Africa in order that we will do the therapy. We do drug checks to verify for the commonest medication, like cocaine, and so on.

Linda who did the bookings, stored in touch with me..I name her mama Linda as she really cares about you and your well being and is there every step of the greatest way. But life did not stand still, in 2017 my daughter Mikayla was born, at first of 2018 we misplaced our second baby at 14 weeks, in the identical year we got pregnant once more with a baby boy. The group at Cape Fertility had been so helpful and kind via the whole course of. The Cape Fertility Egg Donor Program empowers ladies to assist different ladies, to realize their dream of changing into pregnant.

IVF / ICSI can be carried out using donor egg or sperm if indicated. Aevitas has a great choice of sperm donors and egg donors . Patients even have the option of making use of recent or frozen donor eggs . We are pleased to assist couples and people develop the household of their goals, With a proven observe report of serving to families conceive. Our staff can assess your scenario, help match you with eggs provided by a donor of your selection, and customize one of the best fertility remedy plan for you.

[themovenurseson]

Home Nursing in Durban| Nurses on the Move

Home Nursing in Durban - Nurses on the Move provides professional and compassionate home nursing services in Durban, South Africa. Our team of qualified and experienced nurses offers personalized care to patients in the comfort of their own homes, ensuring their health and well-being are prioritized. From wound care and medication management to palliative care and post-operative support, our home nursing services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual patient. Trust Nurses on the Move for reliable and trusted home nursing care in Durban. Contact us today to learn more.

[mybeingthere]

Sue Spargo was born in South Africa. A nurse in Johannesburg before starting her global journey, Spargo is a self-taught quilter and designer, who has learned from others and taught both at home and in many parts of the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and a little bit in Europe. Portugal is her next destination, she revealed. 

She started her company Folk-art Quilts, Inc. in 2002 in the basement of her home where she embarked on quilting, layering and embroidering wool.

https://www.suespargo.com/

[joshslater]

Foreign Exchange

This is a re-release since the previous version got blocked for unknown reasons. I’m not going to bother to find yet another photo that doesn’t break the content rule, so you’ll have to imagine the lower part of a slim, white guy wearing red trunks with the outline of a massive penis. Or read the original story and more on my Patreon.

It all started in what was supposed to be a one week stay in Cape Town. I don't know what the airline had smoked, but a round trip from Europe sold for almost nothing during a few hours. Probably some clerical error in the pricing department. Whatever the reason, I shuffled some tasks around and manage to arrange myself a one week spring vacation. I had no idea of what to expect. Only thing I knew about South Africa was the Kruger Park, the worlds first heart transplant, excellent red wines, Apartheid and Mandela.

It started out amazing. I found a cheap place in Green Point, close to lots of the tourist places, and started to drink my way through South African wine bottles. It was on the third evening I made the wrong move. No, life altering move.

I was heading back to the hotel after some late evening sea side action. I had emptied a particularly good bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, rich with those mineral tones so prevalent in most South African wines. I was slightly sun burned, possibly lost and decidedly round footed when I walked up to two well dressed white men beating the shit out of black kid.

- Hey, stop that!

I said before my brain had fully reengaged. They did stop. One of the men stared right at me, eyes filled with disdain.

- What you say?

I didn't have time to answer him when something hard hit the back of my head with a thud and everything lost focus and disappeared.

When I came to everything was black and my head hurt like hell. I was lying awkwardly, hands bound behind my back, feet tied together, and some sort of bag tied around my head. The sound made me think I was in someones trunk, but I guess it could have been a van or a covered pick up flat bed just as well. In any event, the vehicle was running fast on what I assumed to be a highway. After a bit of struggle I concluded that I was not just bound up, but also tied down and couldn't move much at all. After a boring hour or so still drunk me slipped back into sleep.

Next time I woke up the vehicle was standing still. I was still as tied up as before, but I could hear someone speaking Afrikaan a few steps away. He came close, shuffled some things around, and then I felt a small prick on my arm. I barely had time to realize it was some sort of injection when I lost consciousness again.

Regaining consciousness was quite different third time around. I still couldn't see anything, but I could feel some swim style goggles around my head, probably blacked out. Now I was lying more properly on a firm bed or padded table. I tried to move, but like before I was tightly restrained. This time it felt more professional, like cuffs around arms and legs, and some kind of material pushing against the chest. And I was naked, I think. It was hard to determine, as the temperature was nice and I couldn't move, but I couldn't feel any clothes on my body. I tried to say "hello", but nothing came out.

This quickly became incredibly boring. I couldn't see or feel much. The smell was basically just some generic clean smell of faint detergent. With sounds there were a bit more variation. I could hear some HVAC rumbling once every 5 minutes, or so I guessed. In addition there was a constant low humming in the room. I could hear some faint sounds from outside the room. Perhaps infrequent cars coming and leaving outside the building.

By my estimate I was at least into the third wake hour when suddenly a door opened and I could hear a conversation between the two men who entered the room. They sounded quite far away, so the room was probably large.

"...so many in the database?"

"We use five key measurements combined into one value as sorting key. The circumference and length, both on flaccid and erect, are approximated into two cylinders. Balls are approximated as spheres. Then we just multiply the three volumes together to make the sorting key. First selection priority is of course bio-compatibility, but this size metric allows for fast selection within that set. It only brings candidates though. The final decision is more complex, of course."

"Complex how?"

"Well, let's ask the doctor himself. His coming here."

A third person entered the room.

"You talking about me?"

"Yes, we were just discussing the selection criteria"

"Ah. Well, since this is a demonstration we want to be bold, while being mindful of proportions and aesthetics. In addition to appearance we want to maximize as many of the secondary factors as possible from the paper. For this one we landed in using the Congo supply."

They were standing right next to me now. The "doctor" continued.

"So this is the subject. The first agent is being administered right now, as you can see. Any questions?"

I tried to say something. Anything. But only wheezing air came out.

"Is he trying to speak?", asked the first voice.

"No, he isn't. Come, let's look at the model", replied the doctor, and they left the room as quickly as they entered it.

6-8 HVAC cycles later I heard the door open again and several people walking into the room. I heard a women's voice close to me saying "Everything is green. Go ahead." and I again lost consciousness.

The room was barely furnished, completely white and bathed in light when I opened my eyes.

"Oh, how good. You are awake."

I heard a female voice in a strong South African accent. I turned my head and saw a fat, black South African lady smiling at me. I was super confused. I was in a hospital bed, but this didn't really look like a hospital, and she didn't look like a nurse.

"Wheh...", was as far as I managed on "Where am I" before my voice gave out.

"You need to drink a lot. Here, let me help", said the lady and gave me something that looked like a hospital version of a gym bottle. As I drank she continued.

"You had a traffic accident. Nothing serious. Just a concussion, so you were dismissed from the hospital to make room. This is a recovery home."

I was gulping water. Man, was I was thirsty. "Where are we?" I asked.

"Just outside the city, so still close to Johannesburg."

That's like at least 10 hours away from Cape Town. What the fuck had happened?

"What day is it?"

"It's Thursday today, dear. I'll go and get something for you to eat", the fat lady answered, and started to move towards the door.

Something just didn't feel right. It was Wednesday evening when I was kidnapped. "No, what date?"

"Thursday the 28th", she said from the door.

A whole fucking week.

I felt a sucking black hole in my gut. The lady seemed nice, but there was no way I would trust her right now. Perhaps she believed everything she had just told me, but clearly some things were not true. My head felt fine, as opposed to the last time I was conscious, but what about the rest? I didn't feel any restraints, just my body in a hospital gown, under some white sheets. In fact, nothing hurt anywhere. Just thirsty, still, hungry and a need to piss.

I could see a different door in another wall than the nurse had just left through. Presumably a private toilet for this small recovery room. A pair of slippers stood next to the bed, so I threw off the blankets began to sit up and swing out my legs. That's when I first felt it. It was weird feeling, familiar, but yet very different.

I quickly kicked my feet into the slippers and carefully, still a bit woozy, shuffled into the bath room. It was surprisingly roomy. Well, perhaps not surprisingly, given the number of people with casts, wheelchairs and whatnot passing through. But it had plenty of room around the toilet seat and sink, and a full length mirror next to the sink, presumably for wheel chair bound people.

I raised the gown from my knees to expose my front, and just stared for a several seconds to fully understand what I saw. My dick and balls were gone. In its place was the largest, most aggressively male genitalia I had ever seen, even in pictures. The massive dick went almost down to my knees, and thick as a can of red bull. And even though it was completely flaccid it was veiny as cabbage and the outlines of a massive head was clearly visible through the uncut foreskin.

Behind the dick were two softball sized testicles hanging low, but unevenly so. It was all topped off with a large bush of coarse hair. And all of it, the hair, the balls and the dong, where dark chocolate black.

I just stared in disbelief. Then tentatively I touched the penis. Yep, it was real and it was now apparently mine. Standing straight my hands couldn't even reach halfway down to the tip. My mind caught up with reality and was filling with questions. Who did this? Why did they do this? How did they do this? Isn't there organ rejection? Aren't you supposed to eat some sort of pills forever after receiving a transplant? Are there even any pants I can wear anymore? Did baller shorts just become underwear?

I went to the toilet and emptied my bladder. It worked fine. Better than fine even, as aiming just became a lot easier with such a hose, although using paper involved lifting. Lifting! I could feel that it was much more sensitive than what I was used to, and felt it starting to come alive. I quickly dropped it and went back to bed. Just as I did lunch arrived.

Once fed, and having checked with the care taker, Amahle, that she wouldn't be back for two hours, I decided to try out my new dong. Tissues were already on the side table. I sat up in bed, kicked off the sheet and had another look under the gown. I was again taken aback with the sight. It wan't just massive, but somehow everything, length, girth, balls, looked to be in proportion. I must admit that I haven't spent much time thinking about, looking at or describing cocks, but the first words that came to mind were aggressive, intimidating and virile. The black skin made it even more so, as the light from the window created contrasting highlights on the veins.

Carefully I looked at the border, where the black skin met my pasty, white body. Rather than a sharp line, as I had expected, there was a narrow gradient where one color blended over to the other. How on earth was this done? It looked like perhaps a decades old surgery where the scar had long since gone soft.

I resumed where we left off in the bathroom, slowly stroking it. It reacted right away, and apparently was a grower as well as a shower. Holy fuck was it massive. I just lied in bed and over perhaps 20 minutes had the best wank in my life. I have no idea whose dick I was giving a handjob, but this was clearly his loss and my gain. It was filled to the brim with nerve endings, making every stroke amazing. Or perhaps it was designed and grown in a lab somewhere? In that case, props to the cocksmith.

The head was leaking precum like crazy, sending small droplets of man lube for every noisy slosh of foreskin riding up and down the head. I was probably suffering from some sort of auto-erotic asphyxiation with so much blood displaced, but I managed to be amazed over how long I lasted, in the fog of pleasure.

When I finally couldn't keep it contained anymore, I erupted in rope after rope of cum going everywhere. On my chest, in my face, and some overshooting me all together. As I was catching my breath, sweaty and sticky, I was thinking about what to tell Amahle. Or if I should get up and do some attempts to clean up the mess first. I realized I had plenty of problems ahead of me. Cleaning up, getting home, ever wearing pants again, figuring out how to use toilets. But at least there and then I could not care less.

[kaofeather]

MG III

Resistance & Results

Gandhi was not the man to nurse a grudge. On the outbreak of the South African (Boer) War in 1899, he argued that the Indians, who claimed the full rights of citizenship in the British crown colony of Natal, were duty-bound to defend it. He raised an ambulance corps of 1,100 volunteers, out of whom 300 were free Indians and the rest indentured laborers. It was a motley crowd: barristers and accountants, artisans and laborers. It was Gandhi’s task to instill in them a spirit of service to those whom they regarded as their oppressors. The British victory in the war brought little relief to the Indians in South Africa. The new regime in South Africa was to blossom into a partnership, but only between Boers and Britons. Gandhi saw that, with the exception of a few Christian missionaries and youthful idealists, he had been unable to make a perceptible impression upon the South African Europeans. In 1906 the Transvaal government published a particularly humiliating ordinance for the registration of its Indian population. The Indians held a mass protest meeting at Johannesburg in September 1906 and, under Gandhi’s leadership, took a pledge to defy the ordinance if it became law in the teeth of their opposition and to suffer all the penalties resulting from their defiance. Thus was born satyagraha (“devotion to truth”), a new technique for redressing wrongs through inviting, rather than inflicting, suffering, for resisting adversaries without rancor and fighting them without violence. The struggle in South Africa lasted for more than seven years. It had its ups and downs, but under Gandhi’s leadership, the small Indian minority kept up its resistance against heavy odds. Hundreds of Indians chose to sacrifice their livelihood and liberty rather than submit to laws repugnant to their conscience and self-respect. In the final phase of the movement in 1913, hundreds of Indians, including women, went to jail, and thousands of Indian workers who had struck work in the mines bravely faced imprisonment, flogging, and even shooting. It was a terrible ordeal for the Indians, but it was also the worst possible advertisement for the South African government, which, under pressure from the governments of Britain and India, accepted a compromise negotiated by Gandhi on the one hand and the South African statesman Gen. Jan Christian Smuts on the other. “The saint has left our shores,” Smuts wrote to a friend on Gandhi’s departure from South Africa for India, in July 1914, “I hope for... ever.” A quarter-century later, he wrote that it had been his “fate to be the antagonist of a man for whom even then I had the highest respect.” Once, during his not-infrequent stays in jail, Gandhi had prepared a pair of sandals for Smuts, who recalled that there was no hatred and personal ill-feeling between them, and when the fight was over “there was the atmosphere in which a decent peace could be concluded.” As later events were to show, Gandhi’s work did not provide an enduring solution for the Indian problem in South Africa. What he did to South Africa was indeed less important than what South Africa did to him. It had not treated him kindly, but, by drawing him into the vortex of its racial problem, it had provided him with the ideal setting in which his peculiar talents could unfold themselves. The Religious Quest Gandhi’s religious quest dated back to his childhood, the influence of his mother, and of his home life in Porbandar and Rajkot, but it received a great impetus after his arrival in South Africa. His Quaker friends in Pretoria failed to convert him to Christianity, but they quickened his appetite for religious studies. He was fascinated by the writings of Leo Tolstoy on Christianity, read the Qurʾān in translation, and delved into Hindu scriptures and philosophy. The study of comparative religion talks with scholars, and his own reading of theological works brought him to the conclusion that all religions were true, and yet every one of them was imperfect because they were “interpreted with poor intellects, sometimes with poor hearts,

and more often misinterpreted.” Shrimad Rajchandra, a brilliant young Jain philosopher who became Gandhi’s spiritual mentor, convinced him of “the subtlety and profundity” of Hinduism, the religion of his birth. And it was the Bhagavadgita, which Gandhi had first read in London, that became his “spiritual dictionary” and exercised probably the greatest single influence on his life. Two Sanskrit words in the Gita particularly fascinated him. One was aparigraha (“nonpossession”), which implies that people have to jettison the material goods that cramp the life of the spirit and to shake off the bonds of money and property. The other was samabhava (“equability”), which enjoins people to remain unruffled by pain or pleasure, victory or defeat, and to work without hope of success or fear of failure. Those were not merely counsels of perfection. In the civil case that had taken him to South Africa in 1893, he had persuaded the antagonists to settle their differences out of court. The true function of a lawyer seemed to him “to unite parties riven asunder.” He soon regarded his clients not as purchasers of his services but as friends; they consulted him not only on legal issues but on such matters as the best way of weaning a baby or balancing the family budget. When an associate protested that clients came even on Sundays, Gandhi replied: “A man in distress cannot have Sunday rest.” Gandhi’s legal earnings reached a peak figure of £5,000 a year, but he had little interest in moneymaking, and his savings were often sunk in his public activities. In Durban and later in Johannesburg, he kept an open table; his house was a virtual hostel for younger colleagues and political coworkers. This was something of an ordeal for his wife, without whose extraordinary patience, endurance, and self-effacement Gandhi could hardly have devoted himself to public causes. As he broke through the conventional bonds of family and property, their life tended to shade into community life. Gandhi felt an irresistible attraction to a life of simplicity, manual labor, and austerity. In 1904—after reading John Ruskin’s Unto This Last, a critique of capitalism—he set up a farm in Phoenix near Durban where he and his friends could live by the sweat of their brow. Six years later another colony grew up under Gandhi’s fostering care near Johannesburg; it was named Tolstoy Farm for the Russian writer and moralist, whom Gandhi admired and corresponded with. Those two settlements were the precursors of the more-famous ashrams (religious retreats) in India, at Sabarmati near Ahmedabad (Ahmadabad) and at Sevagram near Wardha. South Africa had not only prompted Gandhi to evolve a novel technique for political action but also transformed him into a leader of men by freeing him from bonds that make cowards of most men. “Persons in power,” the British Classical scholar Gilbert Murray prophetically wrote about Gandhi in the Hibbert Journal in 1918; should be very careful how they deal with a man who cares nothing for sensual pleasure, nothing for riches, nothing for comfort or praise, or promotion, but is simply determined to do what he believes to be right. He is a dangerous and uncomfortable enemy because his body which you can always conquer gives you so little purchase upon his soul.

[what-is-your-plan-today]

Red Sea Diving Resort One Shot-More To Life

Thanks to @sweater-daddiesdumbdork for my @official-and-unstable-satan ‘s Fic Off Challenge nomination... and @icanfeelastormbrewing for the idea on how to start this one off.

Is this gonna end up a series at some point? Probably because I’m a sucker for Ari and writing shit in general... Warnings- Language!

Ari slumped down on the couch in Ethan’s office and glanced at the tumble of scotch next to him.

“There’s something else…” Ethan said

“What?” Ari looked up at him.

“Andy Horowitz…”

Now that was a name he hadn’t heard in a while. Frowning he sat up. “What about him?”

“He’s dead Ari, was caught in a cross fire in Nigeria. Some terrorists raided the camp he was working in. The medics did everything they could but…” Ari let out a sigh and ran his hands over his beard “Shit. What about Hannah?”

“She’s safe.” Ethan assured him. “She’s currently in Johannesburg, as soon as we can get her home we will.”

That conversation was running through Ari’s head right now as 4 years later he stood in front of Hannah as she glared at him, arms folded.

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” she looked at him “I barely got out of Africa alive, Andy didn’t and you want me to come and help you smuggle refugees out of Sudan?” “Hannah, this is gonna be different.” he pleaded “We have a really good cover, a great…” Hannah barked out a laugh and looked at him, shaking her head “No, no you have a pipe dream Ari, just like the pipe dream you roped Andy into almost 8 years back, the same pipe dream that in the end got him killed 4 years ago .”

Ari visibly started, as if he had been slapped. And to be fair, he felt like he had been.

“Is that…is that what you think?” he looked at her, swallowing slightly.

“I don’t think it, I know it.” she blazed at him “If it hadn’t been for you the idea of becoming an MSF would never have entered his head.” “Oh come on Hannah.” Ari sighed “You can’t seriously blame me for that? Andy was a good man, he wanted to help people…” “Was, Ari, yes. He was a good man. Was because he is fucking dead!”

“You were with him!” Ari said, looking at her “You were with him, so you must have shared that same desire.”

“I was with him because I had no choice.” she shook her head “I couldn’t stay behind and wonder what the hell he was doing at home, not seeing him for months on end. Our marriage wasn’t like yours Ari, I don’t have the patience or, frankly, bravery of your wife to be able to wave you off and stay behind…” Ari swallowed, that had hit him hard. “I’m sorry, but the answer is no.” she said, her tone a little softer “I wish you good luck with it, I really do but…” He nodded “Ok, well, thanks for seeing me anyway.”  He approached her a little tentatively “Look, if you change your mind…”

He dropped a card on her desk. She gave it a cursory glance before she looked up at him “I won’t.”

With a tight smile and a nod he left.

Hannah slumped down onto her chair, running her hands over her face. As she wiped the tears from her eyes, her attention fell to the framed photo of her and Andy on her desk. It was taken a few days before he had died, both of them in the field. It hadn’t been an easy 12 months spent, going where the demand took them, but she had to admit, it had been one of the most satisfying 12 months of her life. Helping people who truly needed it. Waking up every morning not knowing whether you would still be in the same place by nightfall, or if demand would take you elsewhere.

She’d struggled to come to terms with Andy’s death, just like any widow would she supposed, but it seemed so cruel. He had dedicated so much of his life to help others, and his life was taken from him in such a violent way. And he’d died saving her, pushing her out of the way of a bullet, taking it straight in the chest. He’d bled out next to her on the dusty floor as she’d desperately tried to save his life.

Her fingers gently ran over the card Ari had left, before she picked it up. It was a business card for Ethan Levin, the Israeli Intelligence Officer that one time Andy had worked with. She tossed it into the waste paper basket with a sigh and ran her hands over her face.

Deep-down she knew blaming Ari wasn’t completely fair, but the fact remained if it wasn’t for him then Andy would never have gotten that bee in his bonnet about there being more to life than treating “old people with flu” his words, not hers. And so after a lot of discussion they’d sold their home and uprooted their lives. And for 12 months it had been great, so rewarding. But not without risks, risks they knew full well about, but that knowledge hadn’t saved him.

After her return to the US she had thrown herself into her studies, qualified as a doctor (which had been surprisingly easy considering her previous experience as a nurse) but now, if she was honest, she was in a rut. Her life felt empty, worse than it had when Andy’s death had been fresh in her mind.

“Because you have no purpose, Han…”

Fuck. She was going to regret this.

******

“You do know that’s a truck, not a fucking gym floor right?” Sammy rolled his eyes.

“I’m restless.” Ari shot back, continuing his press ups.

“You and me both…” Sammy mumbled before he glanced up the street, folding his arms and leaning against the back of the truck “You know I still don’t get why we couldn’t just meet them at the airport.”

“Covert ops man.” Ari said, his arms stretching and then falling again “Use your brain.”

“What time did Ethan say this doctor was arriving?”

“Should be here any moment…” Another few minutes past before Sammy spotted a car pulling up across the street.

“Ari…” he said. Ari paused and looked at him, glancing at the car, before he stopped what he was doing and dropped to his ass, sitting on the back of the truck.

Both men watched the driver get out of the car and open the rear door before heading to the trunk.

“Is that…” Sammy felt his mouth drop open as a woman climbed out of the car and headed to the trunk.

“Well I’ll be damned…” Ari muttered, his mouth curling into a smile as she payed the driver. Nodding to him, she took her bag and headed over to the men.

“Hi Sammy.” she smiled “Long time no see.” “Hannah!” he beamed, sweeping her up into a hug “How you been?” “Oh you know…” she shrugged. She turned her attention to Ari, who grinned at her as he slid off the back of the truck. “Ari.” “What made you change your mind?” he asked, running a hand through his hair.

She shrugged “Dunno. Maybe I’m just an idiot.”

“That’s good…” Sammy snorted “You’re in good company. We all must be to trust this jackass.”

Hannah merely raised an eyebrow, biting back the response she had about getting them killed. She’d made a promise to herself to try and be reasonable with Ari. He hadn’t forced her into this, she was doing this of her own accord. Just like Andy had. That didn’t mean she’d forgiven him though. “Right, now you’re here we should head back.” Ari said. “Rachel and Jake will be wondering where we are.”

“You sure?” Sammy looked at him “Or you wanna do another 50 press ups before we get going?”

“Press ups?” Hannah looked at Ari “Seriously, you were doing press ups?”

He shrugged “Like I said, I get restless.”

“How many did you do?” she queried.

“I dunno, wasn’t counting.”

“Bullshit.” Sammy snorted “He was.”

“50 in how long?”

“I wasn’t…what is this?” Ari frowned.

“Just curious, I manage 30 in a minute but…”

“Is that a challenge?” Ari’s lips curled into a smirk.

She simply shrugged.

“Alright…” he said, dropping down “Go on, set your watch…”

With a roll of her eyes she glanced at her wrist and twirled the dials on the face “Go…”

As he began Sammy looked at her and he sidled closer “Are you really timing.”

“Nope “she said, “I’m just gonna see how long it is before he twigs.”

[testaroblog-blog]

Get Your COVID-19 Test Report on Your Phone

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Original Reference: https://bit.ly/3cWlGtS

[scifigeneration]

Robots are playing many roles in the coronavirus crisis – and offering lessons for future disasters

by Robin R. Murphy, Justin Adams, and Vignesh Babu Manjunath Gandudi

A nurse (left) operates a robot used to interact remotely with coronavirus patients while a physician looks on. MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images

A cylindrical robot rolls into a treatment room to allow health care workers to remotely take temperatures and measure blood pressure and oxygen saturation from patients hooked up to a ventilator. Another robot that looks like a pair of large fluorescent lights rotated vertically travels throughout a hospital disinfecting with ultraviolet light. Meanwhile a cart-like robot brings food to people quarantined in a 16-story hotel. Outside, quadcopter drones ferry test samples to laboratories and watch for violations of stay-at-home restrictions.

These are just a few of the two dozen ways robots have been used during the COVID-19 pandemic, from health care in and out of hospitals, automation of testing, supporting public safety and public works, to continuing daily work and life.

The lessons they’re teaching for the future are the same lessons learned at previous disasters but quickly forgotten as interest and funding faded. The best robots for a disaster are the robots, like those in these examples, that already exist in the health care and public safety sectors.

Research laboratories and startups are creating new robots, including one designed to allow health care workers to remotely take blood samples and perform mouth swabs. These prototypes are unlikely to make a difference now. However, the robots under development could make a difference in future disasters if momentum for robotics research continues.

Robots around the world

As roboticists at Texas A&M University and the Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue, we examined over 120 press and social media reports from China, the U.S. and 19 other countries about how robots are being used during the COVID-19 pandemic. We found that ground and aerial robots are playing a notable role in almost every aspect of managing the crisis.

R. Murphy, V. Gandudi, Texas A&M; J. Adams, Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue, CC BY-ND

In hospitals, doctors and nurses, family members and even receptionists are using robots to interact in real time with patients from a safe distance. Specialized robots are disinfecting rooms and delivering meals or prescriptions, handling the hidden extra work associated with a surge in patients. Delivery robots are transporting infectious samples to laboratories for testing.

Outside of hospitals, public works and public safety departments are using robots to spray disinfectant throughout public spaces. Drones are providing thermal imagery to help identify infected citizens and enforce quarantines and social distancing restrictions. Robots are even rolling through crowds, broadcasting public service messages about the virus and social distancing.

At work and home, robots are assisting in surprising ways. Realtors are teleoperating robots to show properties from the safety of their own homes. Workers building a new hospital in China were able work through the night because drones carried lighting. In Japan, students used robots to walk the stage for graduation, and in Cyprus, a person used a drone to walk his dog without violating stay-at-home restrictions.

Helping workers, not replacing them

Every disaster is different, but the experience of using robots for the COVID-19 pandemic presents an opportunity to finally learn three lessons documented over the past 20 years. One important lesson is that during a disaster robots do not replace people. They either perform tasks that a person could not do or do safely, or take on tasks that free up responders to handle the increased workload.

The majority of robots being used in hospitals treating COVID-19 patients have not replaced health care professionals. These robots are teleoperated, enabling the health care workers to apply their expertise and compassion to sick and isolated patients remotely.

A robot uses pulses of ultraviolet light to disinfect a hospital room in Johannesburg, South Africa. MICHELE SPATARI/AFP via Getty Images

A small number of robots are autonomous, such as the popular UVD decontamination robots and meal and prescription carts. But the reports indicate that the robots are not displacing workers. Instead, the robots are helping the existing hospital staff cope with the surge in infectious patients. The decontamination robots disinfect better and faster than human cleaners, while the carts reduce the amount of time and personal protective equipment nurses and aides must spend on ancillary tasks.

Off-the-shelf over prototypes

The second lesson is the robots used during an emergency are usually already in common use before the disaster. Technologists often rush out well-intentioned prototypes, but during an emergency, responders – health care workers and search-and-rescue teams – are too busy and stressed to learn to use something new and unfamiliar. They typically can’t absorb the unanticipated tasks and procedures, like having to frequently reboot or change batteries, that usually accompany new technology.

Fortunately, responders adopt technologies that their peers have used extensively and shown to work. For example, decontamination robots were already in daily use at many locations for preventing hospital-acquired infections. Sometimes responders also adapt existing robots. For example, agricultural drones designed for spraying pesticides in open fields are being adapted for spraying disinfectants in crowded urban cityscapes in China and India.

Workers in Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China refill a drone with disinfectant. The city is using drones to spray disinfectant in some public areas. Xinhua News Agency/Yang Zongyou via Getty Images

A third lesson follows from the second. Repurposing existing robots is generally more effective than building specialized prototypes. Building a new, specialized robot for a task takes years. Imagine trying to build a new kind of automobile from scratch. Even if such a car could be quickly designed and manufactured, only a few cars would be produced at first and they would likely lack the reliability, ease of use and safety that comes from months or years of feedback from continuous use.

Alternatively, a faster and more scalable approach is to modify existing cars or trucks. This is how robots are being configured for COVID-19 applications. For example, responders began using the thermal cameras already on bomb squad robots and drones – common in most large cities – to detect infected citizens running a high fever. While the jury is still out on whether thermal imaging is effective, the point is that existing public safety robots were rapidly repurposed for public health.

Don’t stockpile robots

The broad use of robots for COVID-19 is a strong indication that the health care system needed more robots, just like it needed more of everyday items such as personal protective equipment and ventilators. But while storing caches of hospital supplies makes sense, storing a cache of specialized robots for use in a future emergency does not.

This was the strategy of the nuclear power industry, and it failed during the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident. The robots stored by the Japanese Atomic Energy Agency for an emergency were outdated, and the operators were rusty or no longer employed. Instead, the Tokyo Electric Power Company lost valuable time acquiring and deploying commercial off-the-shelf bomb squad robots, which were in routine use throughout the world. While the commercial robots were not perfect for dealing with a radiological emergency, they were good enough and cheap enough for dozens of robots to be used throughout the facility.

Robots in future pandemics

Hopefully, COVID-19 will accelerate the adoption of existing robots and their adaptation to new niches, but it might also lead to new robots. Laboratory and supply chain automation is emerging as an overlooked opportunity. Automating the slow COVID-19 test processing that relies on a small set of labs and specially trained workers would eliminate some of the delays currently being experienced in many parts of the U.S.

Automation is not particularly exciting, but just like the unglamorous disinfecting robots in use now, it is a valuable application. If government and industry have finally learned the lessons from previous disasters, more mundane robots will be ready to work side by side with the health care workers on the front lines when the next pandemic arrives.

About The Authors:

Robin R. Murphy is the Raytheon Professor of Computer Science and Engineering and Vice-President, Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue (nfp) at Texas A&M University, Justin Adams is President of the Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue/Research Fellow - The Center for Disaster Risk Policy at Florida State University, and Vignesh Babu Manjunath Gandudi is a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Texas A&M University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.