Miraz Jordan

Got up to check out the helicopter flying overhead before dawn — rather unusual, but then I realised it'd be on its way to a Dawn Parade for Anzac Day.

Then I spotted the waning crescent of the Moon in the East with Venus and what turns out to be Saturn (not seen in the photo) right below.

It's quite something when the helicopter pilot flies at eye level straight towards our lounge window and then banks at the last moment only about 50 metres away. The video doesn't show the window vibrating and the air pulsing.

I've been watching Cornwall Air 999 - Cornwall Air Ambulance and have two key take aways: I won't be climbing any more ladders, nor will I be going anywhere on a two-wheeled motor bike. 😆

This gripping documentary series follows the dedicated air ambulance crews of Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust as they race against time to save lives across the stunning landscapes of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Landed an hour or so ago in the paddock next door. Perhaps it's picnic time … 🤣

Wow, I had no idea this was possible — Text Fragments Enable Deep Linking on Web Pages. The article explains more what deep linking is and how it works.

I encourage you to start using text fragment links when you share information from the Web—people might not realize why the experience is better, but they’ll appreciate not having to hunt for the information you’re referencing.

What a big High over the country does: a couple of days ago it was 29C (about 85F) mid-afternoon; this morning we had our first frost of the year.

With Easter over I ventured out early to the supermarket today. In the fruit and vege section the shelves were mainly empty! At first I blamed Easter but then recalled most of the country has had awful weather over the last week, so maybe it's supply chain issues.

This is interesting, about how flu vaccines are created —

Five flu vaccines are available this year - which one should you get?:

Since the 1950s, the most common way flu vaccines are made is by growing the virus in embryonated chicken eggs.

When the United States experienced an egg shortage recently, with avian influenza partly to blame, the appeal of alternative vaccine-manufacturing processes became clear.

Cell-based vaccines - grown in mammalian cells instead of eggs - are the way of the future, according to Turner.

Are they more effective? Again, no randomised trials compare the efficacy of egg-based and cell-based vaccines, but some studies have shown the latter to be slightly better at preventing illness.

Also interesting:

In healthy adults, data collated by Te Whatu Ora suggests the level of protection against confirmed influenza is between 59-66 percent.

Woke at 3 am from a ridiculous (and unpleasant) dream. Told my brain the concepts it was playing with there just don't work and to try out other ideas instead.

Made a cuppa to help settle back down.

Speaking as a person who does not live and has never lived in any kind of combat zone, I believe the single biggest threat to any human on this plant is climate change. Threat of climate change downgraded in defence force plan | RNZ News:

The 2025 Defence Capability Plan downgrades climate change to two mentions in a single paragraph - both about climate change posing a threat to Pacific Island countries.

The plan is a blueprint for how the government will invest $12 billion over the next four years for a "modern, combat-capable" New Zealand Defence Force.

It said New Zealand was facing "the most challenging and dangerous strategic environment in decades".

$12 billion could do so much good in this world …

So many quotable parts in the article about Mae West, but I chose this one. I had no idea Mae West was so interesting and staunch. Forgotten Hollywood: Mae West:

She refused to wear the costume department’s diamonds and wore her own real ones. “They only had fakes and I couldn’t have them next to my skin. They’d have given me a rash.”

Watch the 8 minute video of Hannah Einbinder — it's such a powerful speech.

Via Dorothy Surrenders: My Weekend Crush:

Hannah Einbinder should be rapidly becoming your favorite outspoken queer celebrity. Not just because she is openly queer and extremely talented and very funny and, yes, hot. But because she speaks out on what she believes. Speaks passionately, speaks clearly. Does not suffer bullshit. Uses her privilege and her platform for more than just glorifying herself.

While cleaning up my hard drive I stumbled on Xena: Warrior Princess, S01E15: Warrior … Princess and it was a very fun watch.

This is one of several episodes where Lucy Lawless plays Xena, but also plays Xena playing a princess, Diana. And Diana playing Xena.

She's brilliant!

As a lifelong lesbian feminist one of the things I want most in the world is for people to stop telling me who I am and how I can be.

So I see it as a massive own-goal by a small but very vocal group of misguided feminists to push those in power to confine and restrict our lives. What all people should be doing, in my opinion, is pushing to open up our lives, to be able to self-determine.

This post occasioned by these recent events:

• Coalition directs Health NZ to stop saying 'pregnant people' | RNZ News:

  "It is important that we have clarity about the people we are referring to when talking about women's health. Sex-specific language ensures that women know what health services they are entitled to and can access these easily, especially for those women with English as a second language."

  "Clear language should be used in all documents and communications that refer to health issues specific to females."

  How insulting to women! As if a woman can't figure out "I'm a person, I'm pregnant, this info is for me". Or maybe women aren't considered to be 'people' …

• The UK Supreme Court has ruled that the legal definition of a woman should be based on biological sex; and Judges at the UK Supreme Court have unanimously ruled that a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law.

All kinds of wrong!

For hundreds of years women in my parts of the world have fought to win me the right to vote, to have a career, to choose my own course in life, to wear the clothes I choose, to take part in public life, to borrow money, to love other women … so many choices in life.

These declarations and pronouncements are a huge step back and no feminists should be supporting them.