It’s once again an Australia Time Friday! It’s FRIDAY!!!!
The Tucker
One of my favorite meals made a return engagement. A 1/2 pound “steak” of Thomas Farms Lamb-burger. Cooked about 4 minutes a side. Seasoned to your preference (salt advised, pepper for some ;-) and topped with an onion / mushroom sautee. Salt, pepper, and Greek Seasoning mix, then sauteed until caramelized a bit.
This was accompanied by a modest “side salad” of 1/2 & 1/2 Iceberg lettuce and butter lettuce, a bit of Mexican Blend shredded cheeses, and 1/2 of a hard boiled egg, cut into smaller chunks. Dressing was Olive Garden Creamy Italian. I added a bit of salt and freshly ground pepper to mine ;-)
The Wine
A new wine tonight. Mr. Riggs “Lamane” 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot blend. About $10 / bottle at the discount market I frequent for “deals” on wine.
A wine in the Bordeaux Tradition. Deep red. Smooth, and rich. A bit tannic, just enough to set off Red Meat flavors nicely. It would go well with strong cheese and Italian dinners as well. I’d not drink it alone without some snacks to light it up. Cheeses, flavored crackers (even a Ritz would do), prosciutto rolls, salami wedges, you know the drill ;-)
This is is definitely a keeper. Wait, scratch that. No Way this bottle survives the night… ;-)
In Other News
Chinese Wuhan Covid cases continue to pop up around Australia. I think the thing is “out of the bottle” now. Best of luck to you all.
Live Breaking News: Experts predict another Melbourne lockdown extension as cases spread
In an alarming development, there are growing signs Covid is spreading beyond the capital and into regional Victoria.
Traces of Covid have been found in wastewater in “unexpected” areas in metro Melbourne and regional Victoria alike, sparking fears the outbreak is spreading.The sites of concern include Lakes Entrance and Camberwell, and catchments in the western suburbs including Tarneit, Williams Landing and Truganina.
“As we always say, any symptoms please get tested but in particular in these catchments bear in mind there could well be a case in those catchments,” the CHO said this morning.
Community spread. It’s a thing…
Win A GOLD Medal, spend a month in Quarantine… Or so it seems:
https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/58172665
Tokyo 2020: Some Australian Olympians face 28-day quarantine
Last updated on 11 August 202111 August 2021.Rules meaning some Australian Olympians are having to quarantine for 28 days after returning to their country from Tokyo have been described as “cruel”.
Athletes returning via Sydney to the state of South Australia are facing an extra two-week quarantine.
That is on top of the two weeks already required for all overseas arrivals.
The AOC said: “While other countries are celebrating the return of their athletes, we are subjecting ours to the most cruel and uncaring treatment.”
They added: “They are being punished for proudly representing their country with distinction at the Olympic Games.”
16 members of the Australian Olympic team are already quarantining in Sydney, the capital of New South Wales.
The government of South Australia said “the high risk of the Delta strain of COVID-19 in NSW” is the reason for the additional requirements, for which the AOC has had an exemption request turned down.
AOC chief executive Matt Carroll said in a statement: “Not only are our Olympians fully vaccinated, but they have also been living in a highly controlled bubble in Tokyo, taking the utmost precautions, tested daily over many weeks.”
“We have received no explanation as to why our application on behalf of these athletes has been rejected.”
OTOH, consider the alternative. You could end up trapped and unable to leave. (Isn’t that the definition of a Prison Island?…)
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-58110308
Australia borders: Citizens living overseas could be ‘trapped’ if they return
By Frances Mao
BBC News, Sydney
Australians living overseas could be “trapped” in Australia if they return, after the nation’s government tightened its border rules without notice.Since March last year, the country has banned its citizens from leaving the country as part of its Covid strategy.
That restriction has not previously applied to Australians who usually live in other countries.
But they will now need to apply for an exemption for outbound travel – in line with rules for other Australians.
Australia’s tough border rules have been controversial. Critics say this change – in effect from 11 August – will further punish families and deter citizens from returning.
The government said the measure aimed to reduce the risk of Covid cases entering the country, as it grapples with its worst outbreaks in a year.
Australia already has a weekly limit on incoming travellers and bans foreigners from entry unless they have an exemption. Its policies are among the strictest globally.
Last month, it halved the number of permitted arrivals due to Delta variant outbreaks.
Many Australians have expressed outrage at the latest move, branded by some as barbaric.
Alexandra Phelan, who lives in the US, tweeted she was “waking up to news that I’m effectively exiled from my country”.
While the closed-border policy has been mostly supported in Australia, many have also criticised its impact on citizens.
That’s got to be a bit tough on the Tourism Industry…
Musings from the Chiefio 
Chiefio …. I keep reading these and seeing salt salt and more salt …. how is your blood pressure.
Just another oldy (67) who is curious …. I can’t salt anything and need to watch salt content on labels ie soup etc to keep my BP down … so far no BP meds though, just managing with the diet.
Cheers and good / great luck with the move.
On one occasion, my M.D. tried to tell me I was “pre-hypertensive” or some such. I got to wear a BP monitor for 24 hours. The end result was the discovery that my BP went up AT THE HOSPITAL but was fine otherwise. Being the curious sort, I got my own BP monitor and experimented…
The end result was that I can place my BP on most any number you like… When I had my wisdom teeth out, about 7 years ago (yes, kept them that long…) I was in the chair at the Oral Surgeon and nice nurse was about to take the BP. I asked “What number would you like it to be?” and was about 1 digit off. Something like 121/82 …
What I learned is all in a posting:
An informational sidebar:
The bottom line ( /smirk ;-) is that there were 3 things going on, none of which was salt.
1) I’d hike in from the parking lot about 300 yards and 2 flights of steps.
2) They would have me perched on the exam bench with my butt clenched to not fall off.
3) I’d “stop breathing during the test” so as not to jiggle anything.
Turns out #1 is not “resting BP”. #2 raises your BP – to defeat lie detectors, spies are taught to tighten the anal sphincter to raise BP, relax it to lower. But the biggie was #3…
Being an (ex) scuba and free diver, I can hold my breath for 2+ minutes. So “not breathing” was no big thing for me. Turns out it IS for your BP. The body just cranks up the heart and blood flow to make up for lower O2 saturation… and turns it down if the blood is highly saturated. So by “over breathing” I got my BP down to somewhere near 100/60? (It’s in the article I think) and by holding my breath I can drive it up to about 160/90-ish.
Salt doesn’t seem to do much of anything to / for me. (Near as I can tell, some folks are salt sensitive and some just are not).
Exactly right; and that’s genetic, in part. Angiotensin-renin system coupled with muscle stretch and other hormones that affect muscle tension. I, too, can will my BP down if I want to. I can will my heart rate down. When sleeping, mine drops into the 30s, like my mom’s did. At first, that scared the staff monitoring it. They relaxed when 1, no other adverse effects were seen and 2. they were told and remembered the family history of mild cardiomegaly and slight parasympathetic nervous system dominance.
Ever wonder why they offer and recommend (but do not require – go figure – but know you have) a “flu” shot every year that is about 40% effective (because of the different “variations”)?
Because of the different variations. Covid is no different. It will continue to mutate (Lamda now). So this crises is going to go on forever. Democrats have figured out how to rob us of our freedom. And Arnie the stupid has no concept of what freedom is.
Phil says: ” So this crises is going to go on forever. ”
I’ve annually gotten a flu shot in September. Mid-Sept will be 6 months since my second Covid shot. I recently punctured my mid-foot with a short nail. Then I checked my Tetanus (Tdap shot, or DtaP) status and am good for 3 more years.
But do I need a 3rd Covid shot, and which one?
Anyway, for the flu crisis that hasn’t been mentioned in 18 months, the shots will be ready. All vaccines produced for the 2021-22 flu season will be quadrivalent . . . – – effectiveness to be determined.
2021-2022 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Supply for the U.S.
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaxsupply.htm
I have found a nice Aussie cab, Martin’s Pickup. Nice wine and nice price. Buy 6 get 10% off. Get the 1.5L and it gets even cheaper per 750ml unit. Like $6.29 per six pack price for 750ml.
@Gerard:
That comment was routed to SPAM, likely since you URL points at Total Wine. But whatever.
I’m a regular customer of Total Wine, and have bought (and reviewed) a couple of Martin’s Pickup wines. Very nice stuff! And yes, I’ve bought the 1.5 L bottles ;-)
The local one was looking for employees, and I thought about applying, but then I’d just drink my whole paycheck ;-)
Previous trials recommend that you do not become your own best customer
Per Timcast, Sydney is now getting 800 Soldiers and “Thousands of Police” to assure folks are locked in their homes:
https://odysee.com/@TimcastNews:0/sydney-goes-full-1984,-800-soldiers,:6