As this blog will be an exercise in regularity, I will have the most recent update listed here so that readers can scroll down and find the latest entries–will try to date entries. Here’s the link to COVID-19 updates https://maggiesmusings688820798.com/13-april-2020-covid-19-update/ :

Updated 4 July 2020

These musings will be random as something in a book or a conversation or a movie or video prompts a post–might be educational, advisory, just off the top of my head or even political or theological………..maybe even a recipe for folks working internationally as well as friends in North America!

Star Date 4 July 2020—USA Independence Day–Lockdown (sort of) Day 94–Until borders open and travel is possible, lockdown continues

July 1st was President’s Day here in Botswana, a national holiday, so this was a 4-day work week. Currently, John is “attending” virtually a 2-day surgery meeting in Pretoria, South Africa along with our surgery faculty, 2 trainees, and a couple of other medical officers headed to surgery. When the only expenses are registration, these virtual meetings are economically attractive but getting away from one’s work is part of professional conferences. When attendees are all in their work towns, it’s hard to guess if the impact is equivalent.

On my 2-weekly trip to the nearby mall Thursday, sporting my face shield and mask, I spotted an electric hair clipper for about $10. John’s last haircut was in March so it’s about time. When we got married, I cut his hair for years but gave it up as styles changed and butch cuts went away. The haircut/trim done on the balcony (to control hair clippings) is not perfect but decent and the clipper was the same cost as a haircut so price is right and we can avoid a salon visit. The weather here is dry and cool–30s and 40s at night and mid 60s or low 70s in the daytime. I haven’t turned on our heat yet–just bundle up in the morning–long underwear and lined jeans are a uniform except during yoga.

The Covid situation globally, and especially in the US, is appalling. The current administration had no excuse for not tackling the problem in March as other high-income countries did–except the hesitation appeared to be linked to strategy of maximizing profits for favored friends as well as –in theory–keeping the economy from getting frightened. All that accomplished was refusing to get PPE produced at a defense-level rate as well as ignoring scientific advice about testing and tracing programs that had to be supported at the national level to be effective. So here we are with the highest case reports since the pandemic began. The Current President’s drive to Make America Great has succeeded—- he got us to the top spot– No. 1–in Covid deaths and cases.

Masks have become symbols of oppression not protection for a group of leaders who seem unfazed by the skyrocketing diagnosed cases as well as an unacceptable death count. I keep thinking about how many jet crashes the deaths represent–a 777-300 can carry 550–just divide 131,500 by 550=230 jet crashes!!! Compared to 9/11 where about 3,000 died, Covid is equal to 40 9/11s. Air travel would cease if this were an aviation issue. Why does the Current President and his minions in the Senate seem unfazed? The Senators from Tennessee get regular emails from me begging for PPE, testing and tracing support–the results are discouraging as they both are members of the reigning party–but I can always hope–and pray.

And the radio silence about the intelligence regarding Russian bounties on American and coalition troops in Afghanistan…………….

Entertainment Review: On the 4th of July, we remember independence from England and I celebrated by being one of the many who subscribed to Disney+ in order to watch a 2016 film of the original cast (I think) Broadway stage hit “Hamilton.” Worth the investment for the 2 hours 40 minutes of song and dance with the most diverse cast since “Lion King.” Much of the music/lyrics was rap and it worked. Lin-Manuel Miranda is a genius–and can sing as well as write and direct or produce or everything. A side pleasure was seeing members of the cast who also act on the TV police series that I watch here in Botswana as I do mindless computer activities.

Guilty secret–the Disney+ sign-up had an alternative offer–for a bit less than twice the $6.99/month, one could choose an addition of Hulu and ESPN. Since Hulu had been on my radar for some time, I took the deal. Hulu’s offerings do supplement the Netflix and Amazon Prime we already had. My first Hulu choice was the 2019 Academy Award-winning subtitled Korean film “Parasites.” No spoilers but the film is fascinating from plot to filming. Won’t say anything about it–different, intriguing, not sure how accurate is its portrayal of modern-day Korea …..

Star Date 30 June 2020—Lockdown (sort of) Day 90–Until borders open and travel is possible, lockdown continues

On Facebook there a poster going around that encourages the support of public education through taxes even if one has no children in the public school system–reason is that lack of support makes for a stupid electorate. This issue is so complex, I had to respond and wrote on one such post : But it’s more complex than this. The wealthy need to pay their fair share of taxes. Period.. I’m happy to pay taxes for schools and social services and I have no children in TN schools. Private and parochial education is a choice and should not drain taxpayer money from the public system (and note the founding dates of many private schools–coincides with integration in some places–as well as the fact they don’t have to educate children with physical, mental, and social challenges although some offer athletic and academic scholarships). Public schools can be great if supported properly. When people discuss choice in public education such as magnets and charters, they conveniently overlook the lack of transportation that may accompany those “choices” that means only people with sufficient income or personal vehicles can take advantage. “No school left behind” might be an equal target with “no child left behind.” And teachers should be paid a living wage and respected as they are in Europe and other high-income countries.

Star Date 22 June 2020—Lockdown (sort of) Day 82–Until borders open and travel is possible, lockdown continues

Today my musings will be a mixture of political and theological thoughts as well as some pop culture. The current world events bewilder, exhaust, and terrify. The worst pandemic in 100 years rages almost unchecked in the US, filmed police brutality causes major protests around the globe, statues are being torn down, the most important US election this century occurs in November, school schedules from preschool through university are in flux –to open or continue online.

Facebook offers interchange opportunities. These are issues I thought about and sometimes shared:

A query from a friend about abortion rights–My response: Such a personal decision. I cannot judge either decision (abortion or give up for adopton) but Roe vs. Wade became law primarily to stop illegal and self-induced abortions because many women died or had terrible complications. People also forgot that Baptists supported it when first passed. There is risk in having a baby if u don’t get good antenatal care and pregnancy can interrupt a person’s life in many ways, especially if u are poor or very young or a student. And why are men not held responsible in any meaningful way? Getting someone pregnant does not seem to ruin the lives of many men. I also don’t quote the “I knew you before birth” Bible verse because there are numerous other verses where believers are instructed to kill–even babies. such as 1 Samuel 15:2,3, Hosea 13:16, and Psalms 137:8-9. Yes, those were enemy children, but innocent.

On a Lancet article “Challenges for the female academic during the COVID-19 pandemic”–Women comprise 70% of the global health workforce and more than 50% of medical graduates in many countries. Despite this, women and gender minorities remain underrepresented in medical leadership. Only 22% of full professors in American medical schools and 23% in Europe are women. Women of colour are particularly underrepresented; only 0·5% of full professors in American medical schools are Black women.

A Reuters article said: Vatican urges Catholics to drop investments in fossil fuels, arms–My thoughts are that if we did the equivalent of a space race for sustainable energy, we could shift profit from fossil fuel shareholders to non-fossil fuel investors. And how many know that the fossil fuel industry actually gets subsidies from the government? “Conservative estimates put U.S. direct subsidies to the fossil fuel industry at roughly $20 billion per year “[https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-fossil-fuel-subsidies-a-closer-look-at-tax-breaks-and-societal-costs]. Be so much better to subsidize renewable energy — I heard the Chinese build one solar farm every week on average!

Change of pace–Movie Review: Somewhere I read that the John Wick films were favorite of boys and men. The on-demand cable option here offered all 3 John Wick movies for Father’s Day weekend–yes, it’s Father’s Day here as well as in the US. What a shoot-em-up action-packed trio! And each one has sequences that appears more like a video game because of the number of bad guys that get shot up, stabbed, or otherwise taken out as well as wild motorcycle and car chases and crashes. Mostly male actors–Keanu Reeves plays Wicks–but a few strong women are tough and ruthless. Dogs have major roles, surprisingly enough. Long on action and a bit short on plot which runs through all 3 films. Not recommended for the feint of heart or someone looking for intellectual stimulation.

Statue

Star Date 19 June 2020—Lockdown (sort of) Day 79–Juneteenth in the US–June 19th, the day in 1865 when word reached Galveston, Texas that the war was over and all previously- enslaved persons were free. The Emancipation Proclamation was in 1863 in the midst of the US Civil War that ended in 1865 when the South surrendered. I admit that until a week or two ago, I had no idea of what Juneteenth meant–had just heard of it. There are so many holes in my knowledge of the history of the people of color in the US. The Black Lives Matter movement is reminding many of us about how little we really know about the Black experience and the experiences of all people of color in our country.

After no social life since March, this weekend we are meeting a friend for lunch Saturday in the Brazilian steak house at the nearby mall and going to the home of friends for Sunday lunch. We always wear masks (I also use a face shield jerry-rigged to a baseball cap) when we go anywhere. Yesterday was grocery day–after the recent brief lockdown, keeping a couple weeks supply of food seems prudent. Probably not necessary for the food itself as we could always get groceries, but stocking up means less trips to the shops and limits exposure–we are in a country where most cases continue to be truck drivers bringing goods from other countries and drivers are all tested at the borders.

Now that students are back at the University, teaching strategies still involve some online learning for larger groups. Our medical education colleagues continue working with faculty via Zoom or similar programs to help faculty with how to best handle the online teaching and assessment. We met today to plan a webinar where faculty already using remote teaching can share with others who wants to learn more. All around the globe medical schools wrestle with handling the clinical rotations and ensuring students are properly protected.

Our surgery faculty and residents are registered for a July meeting in Pretoria, the first virtual surgery conference of the “new normal.” Possibly our annual fall surgery meeting in the US will be virtual but no word yet. Most of the spring and summer professional meetings are cancelled or went virtual. At present we couldn’t have traveled anyway.

Star Date 17 June 2020—Lockdown (sort of) Day 77–On Friday night total lockdown was reinstated after 12 cases were diagnosed but reversed last night.

In keeping with advice to keep a journal during this 2020 pandemic, I’m trying to update the happenings here in Gaborone. Somehow the days pass quickly and making notes only occurs to me every week or so. When the original lockdown was eased almost 2 weeks ago, life seemed to be settling in to masks, hand sanitizer, and temps taken in the shops which all were then open. Then on Friday, 12 more cases added to the 48 diagnosed here caused a reinstatement of the tight lockdown. But last night the announcement came that the lockdown was lifted.

The bright spot after weeks of protest over Mr. George Floyd’s tragic death and the long-overdue focus on Black Lives Matters–maybe the protests had some influence in a roundabout way– is the announcement yesterday that the Supreme Court ruled that the civil rights law of 1964 protects gay and transgendered workers. Almost as astounding was judges refusal to hear several 2nd amendment cases. More important cases are coming soon–we’ll see how they rule then.

How teaching and learning are going to look is the current issue facing schools and universities all across the globe including here in Botswana. Connectivity is an issue even in the US. Now that students have returned to campus, wi-fi connectivity won’t be the issue it was when students were scattered across this country the size of France. Likely there will be online teaching to limit close contact even with instructors and teachers in the same community. Blended learning– a combination of online and face-to-face — is also on the table.

Star Date 10 June 2020—Lockdown Day 70–Most restrictions easing but borders still closed. No word on when international flights will start back up.

Last night the funeral service for George Floyd was held at the Fountain of Praise Church in Houston, TX and CNN broadcast all 4 plus hours across the globe. I watched from the opening music to the processional out of the church, about 10:30 pm here in Botwana.. A number of prominent persons as well as family members spoke in this dignified but life-celebrating service. George Floyd’s life was shared in personal and loving terms, making his senseless murder even more tragic. Joe Biden spoke via a video clip and the Rev. Al Sharpton gave the keynote eulogy with a plea for justice for African-Americans and change in the governmental structure that permits events like this murder to possibly go unpunished.

The half-hearted response from some members of the current administration about the multiple cases of police brutality that have gone and continue to go unpunished sickens one to watch. Apparently, some cities are already making changes to allowed police procedures. We can only pray that reforms comes soon before more persons are harmed such as the 75-year-old Catholic peace protestor who was knocked to the sidewalk, suffered a head wound, and was ignored by fellow “peace keepers.”

No other police brutality case has captured world attention like George Floyd’s death. In Ghana, a wreath was laid in his honor at the W.E.B Dubois Centre in Accra. Protests for Black Lives Matters are taking place in major cities around the world and broadcast on CNN and BBC and other news services we get on cable TV.

In 11 days winter will start here in southern Africa. Our temps are in the low 70s in the day time and get down into 40s at night. No rain for more than a month so likely dry season. Gaborone is right on the edge of the Kalahari desert so we a low rainfall–the hope is to get enough each year to keep the local reservoir/lake full enough to supply steady water. City water is very clean and we don’t filter or boil.

As things loosen here, restaurants are starting to allow in-house dining. We had our first meal out last Saturday at the Gaborone Club, a tennis and lawn bowling club we found on a stroll through our neighborhood 2 weeks ago. Membership not required to use their small café but everyone entering the premises signs up and has a temp check. Servers and diners (2 others) wore masks but only one person playing tennis was masked. Masks are required in public and most people comply as well as keep some distancing when waiting to enter stores or restaurants. Sanitizer is sprayed on hands as well.

Star Date 7 June 2020—Lockdown Day 67–Most restrictions easing but borders still closed

Another Sunday of a Facebook church service from our Methodist church in Nashville and a Sunday School Zoom class. The past week has seen a loosening of some restrictions with liquor sales resuming Wednesday but travel outside of Botswana is nearly impossible as borders are closed and only an occasional repatriation flight on Ethiopian Air for those who feel they must leave. One issue that could affect flying out is the slight chance of getting quarantined for a week or two in transit if there are any delays in making connections. A rumor is that the Botswana border won’t reopen until September but there has been no official word. The only recent cases are truck drivers who get tested as they enter the country and the only death was in the first week when an elderly, frail woman returned to the country. So far we’ve had a total of 40 diagnosed cases.

The news from the US is both horrifying and hopeful. The peaceful protests against police brutality are overdue and the fact that brutality is continuing and being filmed makes one think it may be worse than imagined. The clearing of the Square for CP’s photo op with the Bible in front of the Episcopal church near the White House was terribly disturbing as was the later photo op at the Catholic church. Using a medical evacuation helicopter to help drive protestors back was an abuse of power–a symbol of help becomes a weapon of force. The hope is that there is attention on health and civil rights inequities faced by people of color. I use Twitter and Facebook to spread my disgust about the response of the current administration to the COVID pandemic as well as the violent response to peaceful protests. And yes, I did see there was looting but someone posted that protestors protest and looters loot. We can’t let looting detract from the vital message of Black Lives Matter. The worrying aspect of protests presently is the possibility of spreading COVID-19. Many but not all wore masks. Physical distancing and masks continue to be important in slowing the spread. I also use a plastic face shield at times.

Movie Recommendation: “The Admirable Crichton” (YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-5X8yqZV1E&t=5345s)– is a British film from the 1950s about the upper and servant classes during the time of Suffragettes — not exactly a comedy or drama –sort of a combo–but definitely worth watching and the price is right–it’s family fare as well–perfect for COVID time–with a chance to discuss afterwards.

Star Date 29 May 2020—Lockdown Day 58–Some restrictions easing

This week a loosening of restrictions began here in Botswana. The retail stores including those in my nearby Riverwalk Mall were allowed to open; but each customer gets a spray of hand sanitizer and must sign in with name, ID number, phone number, place of employment, and area of town where one lives. The grocery stores continue to be well supplied so meal prep is fine. This week the menus included guacamole, black beans, Spanish rice, vegetable soup, corn bread, angel biscuits, and store-bakery pizza, For the first time in Botswana, we enjoyed one of our favorite dishes from a recipe that came from Kelly Moore, a Vandy medical student at the time and now a public health immunization consultant working from Nashville. In the US, I use 3 cans–1 corn, 1 black beans, and 1 tomatoes with chilis–just dump together and heat–great as a side dish or over rice or spaghetti. I brought dried black beans from the US in November but kept forgetting to buy a can of corn. Used regular canned tomatoes and cayenne pepper.

The University of Botswana is working towards opening the campus for some of the students. Most staff are back and cleaning and preparation are ongoing. Not sure which student groups will be returning in the medical school but the goal is to help the final years to finish and move forward as interns.

Still no word on when the borders will open for more than returnees and trucks bringing food and supplies. So far 35 cases have been diagnosed and all the recent cases are truck drivers. Only a few cases appear to be transmitted here in Botswana–most were returnees or truckers. The only death was a frail older person who returned at the very start of the lockdown and was in quarantine. All returnees are currently required to spend quarantine in a hotel for 2 weeks. Air Botswana is scheduled to start flights on June 1st but no word if the flights to Johannesburg or Cape Town will go. More and more events in the fall in the US seem to be going virtual or are simply canceled. We aren’t sure when we will be able to get back to Nashville. Currently, the tourist game parks in South Africa and here are closed. Some possibility of July openings but no real news.

The news from the US isn’t as pleasant as our Botswana home dining. Death count from COVID passing 100,000 is unacceptable and heartbreaking although many folks seem to just shrug. The lack of response from the federal government regarding medical supplies and protective equipment is unconscionable while rapid response was launched for meat production and against fact checking. The death of another unarmed black man in police custody is tragic–no words are adequate–and can be stopped if there is collective will and leadership from all levels of government as well as from well-known and respected faith leaders. We must admit that the US is a violence and gun culture and there is a tacit permission for using excessive force and guns as problem solvers. My personal greatest outrage and disappointment is the lack of response from many of the white Christian leaders–ministers, politicians, and lay persons. These same Christians wave around arguably-ambiguous Scriptural interpretations about gender issues, the role of women in religion, and freedom of reproductive choice.

Guilty Pleasure Dept.: Sitting at home all day with mostly busy work allows me to watch cable TV and one of my favorites is “Law and Order: SVU.” Been watching this for many years in the US and then found it here. Honestly, the storylines continue to be entertaining and unique. The best part is that each episode plot stand on its on so if you miss a few weeks or even years of episodes, the episodes make sense. So many TV dramas these days are mini-soap operas or serials and the system here of shows can be random–old mixed with newer.

Emma Thompson in “Nanny McPhee” (2005) is her usual terrific self–a children’s movie with an all-star cast–Colin Firth, Derek Jacobi, Angela Lansbury. Highly recommended for a family movie–or even adult time. A fairy tale but in this time of COVID we need fairy tales–especially with happy endings.

Star Date 24 May 2020—Lockdown Day 53–Happy Memorial Day Weekend to US Friends and Family

CP now mulls advice to resume nuclear testing after withdrawing from the Open Skies Treaty–just another day in paradise! A professor at the Naval War College says that nuclear testing in the Cold War era was quite lucrative and there are old guard who miss that money trough. Five new COVID cases in Botswana this week–first new cases (total 30) in several weeks–mostly truck drivers, we hear. Many experts are predicting a surge of cases across Africa in the next several months. We don’t know when travel will return to normal and the borders between Botswana and neighbors will open to normal traffic. Air Botswana is scheduled to begin flights on 1st of June but we don’t know what restrictions will be placed on those returning from other countries. For 2 months returnees have been placed in 14-day quarantine–this strategy caught the first 20 plus cases.

Distance Business–Just called the company that looks after our heat and air system in our Nashville home for the 6-monthly check. Fortunately, friends are using the house and will let the technician in to check over everything related to the A/C .

Star Date 21 May 2020—Lockdown Day 50–Happy Ascension Day–Public holiday in Botswana! Gaborone, Botswana

Beautiful weather for Ascension Day as well as for loosening of lockdown restrictions a bit at a time. Retail stores such as clothing, furniture, appliances, and electronics are now allowed to open. Social distancing and masks are needed to enter stores where one must sign in in and have a temp check. Numbers of customers are controlled. Groceries are well stocked and travel restrictions are easing–for weeks one needed a permit to travel through various zones of town and the country. Travel was only permitted up to 60 miles. No alcohol sales yet. The permit was necessary for the short distances I walked–around this neighbor and over to the nearby mall. My phone’s step counter reports that a mall run with stops at several shops and 3 groceries added up to 3,800 steps and 1.2 miles.

The work done for distance learning in the university may be useful at some point but there is a move to get the students back to campus in the next few weeks if all safety measures to prevent virus spread can be put in place. The clinical learning presents the biggest challenges, here and all around the globe.

Star Date 19 May 2020—Lockdown Day 48–Gaborone, Botswana

In reading about DeVos sending COVID funds to private schools, it brings up the idea of fairness. If private school receive any federal money, they must be required to take intellectually and physically and emotionally challenged students in the same proportions as public schools. It’s only fair. People have no idea how much public money helps vulnerable populations that receive FREE high-quality education available only through the public system. The Current President likely has many supporters whose children have benefited from these programs and yet they don’t connect the need to support public education because sometime the programs are actually in special private schools that receive government or state money to accommodate these children. Many private schools are designed for intellectually and socially-abled children — not special needs children. These schools should not receive emergency funds because they mostly serve financially able families–sure, there are some scholarship children, but most of the student body pay tuition–and that’s choice. Here’s just one example: Special needs vouchers cost Wisconsin public schools $5.6 million in first two years. https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2018/07/24/special-needs-vouchers-cost-public-schools-5-5-million-first-two-years/808882002/

Star Date 15 May 2020—Lockdown Day 44–Gaborone, Botswana

In show business, name recognition is everything–good or bad–because people forget why a name is memorable. But if memorable, it must be good. I think the Current President gets a million dollars of free campaign publicity every day just as in 2016 when his buffoonish and outrageous words and actions seemed so entertaining to every media outlet, conservative, liberal, or moderate. Those of us hope to see the CP defeated in November should stop using his name. Not necessary. Always apparent. I won’t try to edit Facebook or Twitter posts when sharing, but I will try to avoid “uttering” the name.

The Current President’s recent ploy of blaming President Obama for everything wrong in the US reminds me of the old Flip Wilson catchphrase “The devil made me do it.” Sadly, some of you reading this weren’t born in the 1970s when he was a television star. If an outsider is to blame, then no blame falls on the perpetrator–never his fault–does this sound familiar?

The latest report of the advice son-in-law Jared Kushner gave CP that too much testing and case reporting would rattle the stock markets is criminal if one believes a criminal action is, among other definitions, a volitional act that causes irreparable harm. Repeated studies demonstrate that vigorous and targeted testing and contact tracing is key to slowing the spread and saving lives. Everyone mourns the lack of coordination that may have allowed the 9/11 tragedy as the verbal autopsies assert. The casualties from delayed responses to COVID-19 are already many times greater than 9/11. The fastest responses were from persons in early coronavirus briefings who used their insider knowledge to dump stocks before the stock market crash.

Sitting in Botswana and watching the drama unfold nightly (daytime in the US) concerning the COVID-19 decimation of Americans is unsettling and appalling. Deaths that exceed wartime casualties and many that might well have been avoided with a coordinated and scientifically-based response are depressing, embarrassing, anger-inflaming. Yesterday’s appearance of whistleblower (and hero to many) Dr. Rick Bright before Congressional lawmakers revealed the loss of time between knowledge of the coming pandemic and any meaningful action to address the scourge. Coupled with the Kushner comments on protecting markets and other instances of reports about officials trying to steer PPE and other supply business to those with connections in high places, the massive scale of mismanagement beggars belief. The importance of a huge voter turnout in November is underscored.

Star Date 14 May 2020—Lockdown Day 43–Gaborone, Botswana

A week from today–“Ascension Day is traditionally celebrated on a Thursday, the fortieth day of Easter (following the accounts given in Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51 and Acts 1:2), although some Christian denominations have moved the observance to the following Sunday” (from Google). Oddly enough, Ascension Day (honoring the day Jesus rose into heaven 40 days post Resurrection) is a public holiday in some European countries such as Switzerland. Wonder why a “Christian” country like the US ignores it?

Star Date 13 May 2020—Lockdown Day 42–Gaborone, Botswana

Just another day. COVID INFO NEWS DIGEST distributed. 30 minutes of yoga with my YouTube yogi. Egg poached in the microwave in a water glass and now computer time with mindless TV running in the background. Yesterday I made a “bandana-style” folded mask out of some fabric I bought a year ago for a tablecloth. It’s a 2nd mask to add to my baseball cap-attached mask I wear whenever I go out.

Star Date 12 May 2020—Lockdown Day 41–Gaborone, Botswana

Somehow the past week has gone by quickly. A week ago we were making the final tweaks on our virtual grand rounds for the Vanderbilt Office of Health Sciences Education–7 pm our time and noon in Nashville. Our biggest worry was that the wi-fi connection for Zoom would go off but all went well–we had 25 minutes of slides and then questions and answers from friends and family that we had sent the link to–shameless self-promotion to paraphrase Click and Clack the NPR car men. Turns out it was their first virtual rounds.

The University of Botswana continues to work on implementing distance learning (emergency remote teaching) that was officially launched yesterday. Some are using Zoom but WhatsApp on their phones is what the far-off students (Botswana is the size of France) are most likely to be able to access.

Working from home continues to agree with me and John’s goes to his office weekdays. We did get out to the nearby Riverwalk Mall on Saturday morning. Botswana is doing a very gradual opening. Most stores are still closed but groceries continue open and the drill is to check temperatures and spray hands with sanitizer–some even require signing in with name and address.

Last night’s supper was Indian-style lentil stew in the slow cooker. Should get 2 or 3 more meals out of it–I double the amount and it’s up to the brim.

Star Date 5 May 2020—Lockdown Day 34–Gaborone, Botswana–Cinco de Mayo

Rant: Celebrating Cinco de Mayo seems inappropriate as we hear and watch and read about the unsettling news from the US concerning responses to strategies to minimize COVID contagion and even death. The threats and violence against lawmakers and health experts is terrifying as officials seek to keep persons safe and balance that with providing essential services and making sure people have enough to eat if they can’t work. Stimulus money gets to wealthy groups and big businesses while others can’t even sign up for unemployment due to demands on the system. The willful blindness and acceptance of lies about procurement of PPE and the materials required for testing is beyond belief. Using the full force of the executive office to insure meat production (which is hardly necessary to healthy eating) and refusing to use those same powers to increase the manufacturing of vital health equipment and materials will surely be judged by history–but future historical accounts won’t help those who don’t survive now.

Life: Even after my rant to honor Cinco de Mayo, guacamole and beans and rice are on tonight’s menu. Nice avocados are hard to find here–we were spoiled in Kenya and Rwanda–but Woolworth’s (Woolies to us locals) had a 4-pack of lovely ripe [DO NOT SQUEEZE the packet warned] avocados Saturday when we braved the near-by mall. They were perfect and I made the guacamole Sunday.

Last night at 7 pm Botswana time and noon in Nashville, we did our Zoom grand rounds for the Vanderbilt Office of Health Sciences Education. Our biggest worry was losing our Wi-fi connection–our server is pretty reliable but does have spells of loss. Two tiny hiccoughs, hardly noticeable. Our topic was “Medical Education, Botswana, in the Time of COVID-19.” We both use Zoom for meetings and Sunday school and church but had not ever done a live formal presentation with slides–turned out much easier than I thought. Guess that’s why those insider traders were buying Zoom stock back in February.

People frequently ask us what it’s like to live here and I always answer, “Easy.” Living so close to the South African border where almost everything is available, we eat well. Cooking is fun because most ingredients are readily available, not like some places. Thought I’d share some of our recent dishes and the recipes.

Friends brought us Minnesota wild rice and a cookbook and I’ve made the creamy mushroom soup and wild rice recipe several times. Even if you don’t have wild rice, the soup is delicious and pretty easy. I had never made mushroom soup before–only used or ate the canned type:

Rice: Wash 1/2 c. wild rice 3 times in hot tap water and the put in 1 1/2 c. water and simmer for an hour or so till water absorbed.
Soup: 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
1/2 lb. mushrooms, sliced
3 Tbsp. butter (might need more butter or oil),
1/4 c. flour, 4 c. chicken broth (I use bullion cubes),
1/2 c. cream,
2 Tbsp. sherry
Saute onions in butter till soft, add mushrooms and saute (extra olive oil or butter might be needed) till soft. Add flour slowly and cook 5 minutes or so. Stir in broth & bring to boil, stir till smooth and flour cooked–I keep simmering till rice is done. About an hour.
Recipe can be doubled but same amount of wild rice–I’m sure soup would be great without the rice (From: The Best of Wild Rice Recipes, B. Ojakangas).

Guacamole
2 large ripe avocadoes (4 small ones)
½ small onion, chopped fine
1 T. lime juice—or juice of 2-3 limes
Several dashes hot pepper sauce such
      as Tabasco
½ t. salt (to taste)
Mash avocadoes with a fork.  Add other ingredients and stir and mash together.  Taste and correct seasoning.
Cover tightly and store in frig. Air makes it turn brown.

Star Date 1 May2020—Lockdown Day 30–Gaborone, Botswana

Happy Labor Day in Botswana–a national holiday. Several folks have suggested that we should all keep a journal of our lives during this pandemic so I’m going to try to be more intentional and regular with this blog. So here I am–2 days in a row!

John stayed home from the office but is working away on his computer. I’m in my office (living room couch) so I guess I’m at work also. Just another day–started off with dumping ingredients in the slow cooker for my friend’s recipe for Louisiana Red Beans and Rice. Used pintos–couldn’t get kidney beans the last time I shopped but had everything else. Guess I’ve never used real red beans. Next was looking for news updates for my daily digest that I send to the University of Botswana medical school faculty and a few others. Then my 30-minutes of yoga–I do that 5 mornings a week. Several years ago I read that the conceived wisdom (of that moment) was 2 1/2 hours of exercise per week was adequate for good health–5 times 30 minutes…. I liked it and adopted it–not looking for further studies.

Our weekend project is getting ready for our virtual grand rounds talk Monday for the Vanderbilt Office of Health Sciences Education. The title is “Education, Botswana, in the Time of COVID-19.”

Star Date 30 April 2020—Lockdown Day 29–Gaborone, Botswana Margaret.tarpley@vanderbilt.edu

Is lockdown guilt a real diagnosis? The lockdown days are pretty much the same as my pre-lockdown days—working from home, surfing the net for information for various projects, editing manuscripts, mindless TV (Law & Order, Criminal Minds, endless “breaking news” reports repeated on CNN, old movies), reading on my Kindle, and cooking soups and stews in the slow cooker. With our adequate warning of the lockdown, we stocked the pantry and frig a month ago and then 10 days ago donned homemade masks and braved the nearby mall to restock. Without children who need instruction or an older relative requiring care or a pet needing a walk or food, I enjoy the same pleasant apartment with adequate wifi as before the lockdown and have been just as busy–maybe busier — than before.

My only added medical education duty is to send out a daily update on COVID-19. Combing through online news, journals, Twitter, and Facebook with occasional tips from colleagues and friends is surprisingly fun as well as instructional. Also provides me with Tweets and Facebook posts of my own.

Since I also have the opposite of SAD–seasonal affective disorder–and get energized when skies are overcast, dark, or rainy, then I guess deriving pleasure from the lockdown is in character. The weather is also changing from very warm in the day time to highs in the 70s and lows in 50s at night. Fall weather and in a month or two it will get quite chilly at night and in the mornings–our AC units actually have a heat setting and we use some heat in June, July, and maybe August.

The worst part of the lockdown is watching and reading about the devastation the pandemic wages on victims, healthcare workers, first responders, families, and communities around the globe. Most baffling is the horrendous response of the United States leadership who declare the Defense Production Act for meat packing facilities but not for those items essential to testing and protecting healthcare workers and others who risk their lives every day to serve patients and provide vital services. Refusing to heed medical advice offered by some of the finest scientific minds in the world is incomprehensible. Hamburgers, pork chops, and chicken deemed essential, but swabs, reagents, and protective gear optional? History will judge these decisions but many folks won’t survive to read the accounts. Every day I’m reminded of the Emperor’s New Clothes–just saying “we’re doing a great job” doesn’t make it true or visible.

My colleagues in medical education have expended countless hours trying to work out strategies for implementation of distance learning (emergency remote learning) for the medical school faculty. We meet on Zoom and share ideas and duties. Medical students are scattered all across Botswana, a country the size of France, and Wi-fi connections not uniformly strong.

The pandemic affects all areas of medical training. Eliminating all operations except emergency and life-threatening situations sets back surgery and ob-gyn training for residents as well as students. Hospitals here and around the globe are losing income from elective operations and clinic visits. John goes to his nearly-empty office building during the week but mostly interacts by Zoom or phone with colleagues and students. With only 2 surgery residents, he can observe physical distance in a conference room several times weekly for teaching sessions. He has made contact with a couple of students for educational sessions but connection issue likely double the time required. Distance learning isn’t easy. The government has negotiated some data for students with poor or unaffordable connectivity.

Book Recommendation: Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men (2019) by the British feminist, author, and journalist, Caroline Criado Perez, explains how women have been overlooked and ignored–sometimes deliberately– in social, political, and medical issues as well as research. This is likely the most influential book concerning women for me since Handmaid’s Tale.

Star Date 20 April 2020—Lockdown Day 19–Gaborone, Botswana

Just sent this message to my Republican senators–and yes, it’s true.
“As an NRA marksman, I value hitting the target. TN is not there. Keep Tennessee closed till most citizens are tested for COVID-19. In the long run, we will all be safer and ready to return to the hunt and to jobs.” Got the NRA badge in high school at 4-H camp.

“The Emperor’s New Clothes” by Hans Christian Andersen has been on my mind since 2016; but in this time of COVID-19 pandemic, it comes to mind daily, especially during news broadcasts. Here’s the link to the tale for those who’ve not read it in many years http://www.online-literature.com/hans_christian_andersen/967/ or perhaps are unfamiliar with it.

The upshot (spoiler) is that two con men claim ‘’that they knew how to weave stuffs of the most beautiful colors and elaborate patterns, the clothes manufactured from which should have the wonderful property of remaining invisible to everyone who was unfit for the office he held, or who was extraordinarily simple in character.”

The con men/weavers request fine silk and gold thread and then pretend to weave this cloth and the king’s trusted advisors pretend to see it because they don’t want to be thought stupid or unfit for their duties.

Ultimately, the king puts on these beautiful clothes “as light as a cobweb; one might fancy one has nothing at all on, when dressed in it; that, however, is the great virtue of this delicate cloth.” He can’t see or feel them but doesn’t want to be thought unfit or simple.

He goes out in public and the crowd “admires” his clothing until a little child say, “But the Emperor has nothing at all on!”

The tale concludes:

“Listen to the voice of innocence!” exclaimed his father; and what the child had said was whispered from one to another.

“But he has nothing at all on!” at last cried out all the people. The Emperor was vexed, for he knew that the people were right; but he thought the procession must go on now! And the lords of the bedchamber took greater pains than ever, to appear holding up a train, although, in reality, there was no train to hold.

Star Date 18 April 2020—Lockdown Day 17–Gaborone, Botswana

Another outing to the nearby mall this morning with John before breakfast–on quest for cabbage and green bean or asparagus. Successful for cabbage slaw but no green beans. The wifi sometimes comes and goes–likely due to many other folks also online–but the cable TV is pretty reliable so there’s always Law & Order, Criminal Minds, and National Geographic. Being able to check e-books out of the Nashville Public Library is a blessing as is Amazon Kindle and Kindle Unlimited. One of my time passers is searching for the latest info on COVID-19 to share with the med school faculty and finding news reports to put on Twitter and Facebook–some political (well, many …) and some informational. COVID-19 is an industry–altruistic, risky, and life-preserving for many, and profit driven for others. Also likely to assist academic promotions if the flood of publications is any indication.

Book recommendation: Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men (2019) written by Caroline Criado Perez is about how women throughout history and even today have been systematically ignored and the results of that omission affect everything from medical research to transportation system designs. White men are universal standards. I’m sending copies to women who might enjoy it. Online shopping is global–so nice to be able to reach out via the internet and it turns out Amazon is a big Post Officer user so I’m also supporting our postal system–and, indirectly, voting by mail! Who knew shopping could be political?

Star Date 17 April 2020—Lockdown Day 16–Gaborone, Botswana

Beginning to run out of fresh vegetables and fruit so decided to “brave” the nearby Riverwalk Mall this morning and had a good run. Wearing my jerry-rig mask I visited 2 supermarkets and got grapes, oranges, tomatoes, potatoes, corn-on-the-cob, hummus, but no cabbage (used for slaw and vegetable soup) or green beans or asparagus. Lots of iceberg lettuce (which I don’t buy) but onions are back. The stores had a fair number of folks but not crowded at all. More ex-pats were wearing masks than locals–one register clerk out of 4 or 5 had a mask.

Star Date 13 April 2020—Lockdown Day 12–Easter Monday—Gaborone, Botswana

To blog or not to blog–that is the question (and why does Shakespeare have all the good lines?). Whether it is better to work on a distance learning module for medical ethics or to suffer the self-doubt of preferring to communicate personal opinions from an armchair expert on a range of global and domestic issues for an extremely limited audience of friends and family, most of whom (but not all) agree with my point of view already. Blogging is easier than curriculum development and don’t let anyone tell you different! Also much more fun and requires far less prep and research.

Today I wanted to rub in the fact that in many places, including Botswana, Easter Monday is a public holiday, unlike the US. Also Good Friday, thus creating a lovely 4-day break. Of course, it’s now somewhat meaningless with staying home anyway except for the work-at-home folks. And did you know Ascension Day (39 days post Easter) is a public holiday in all 26 Swiss cantons as well as a number of European countries? Thursday, May 21st this year, for anyone interested.

One of my daily tasks is the information update sent out to staff. Here’s a link to what the email reported today: https://maggiesmusings688820798.com/13-april-2020-covid-19-update/

Star Date 12 April 2020—Lockdown Day 11–Easter Sunday—Gaborone, Botswana

Easter message:
On this highest holy day for Christians, many folks are hungry, worried about keeping their shelter, and terrified of illness that might keep them from working to support their family and themselves–and this is in the United States. Also remember the world and how difficult the situation is where economic inequities, war, and natural disasters are added to the pandemic. Read Ecclesiastes 1:18 (GNB)

Christians today are saying, “He is risen! He is risen indeed!” But we must act to help others if these words are to have meaning and not be just an empty call and response.

Look at the Rev. Dr. Barber’s words and think and pray. Easter message: https://maggiesmusings688820798.com/easter-message/

Star Date 11 April 2020—Lockdown Day 10—Gaborone, Botswana Entertainment Tips:

“Unorthodox”, the 4-5 part miniseries on Netflix is recommended. Hope it’s an accurate depiction of Hasidic Jewish culture in Brooklyn. Based on Deborah Feldman’s 2012 autobiography Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots.

Easter is a 4-day weekend (Good Friday through Easter Monday) for much of the world where there is significant Christian influence. Sitting in my living room looking out the open glass doors (78F) to the small balcony, my thoughts are that this lockdown for me is the “old” normal. We elected to use drivers and taxis rather than own or rent a vehicle and transportation is a bit like having Uber or Lyft on speed dial–never a problem and help with bags as well. I’ve always worked from home here in Gaborone and only left the apartment complex 3 or 4 times a week–to the nearby mall for groceries, to church on Sunday morning, and to the university for a couple of med student classes. My YouTube Yoga 5 mornings/week remains constant and surfing the internet for various projects and information searches continues. By request, here’s a link to pictures of our apartment https://maggiesmusings688820798.com/gaborone-apartment/

The medical education dept. requested that I do a daily news digest on COVID–19 for the med school faculty and that requires my searching recent journals, news reports, Twitter, and even Facebook for worthwhile information to share. This continual information seeking allows me to find articles to share on Facebook and Twitter–and offer my unapologetic “liberal” spin –on news that is frightening and embarrassing for an American. Watching volunteer mask-stitching exercises to supply hospital workers as well as private citizens and seeing nurses donning garbage bags as protective covering is beyond belief as responses to this emergency in “the richest country in the world.”

Self-fulfilling prophecy” came to mind as I thought about a future justification for blaming the federal government for the woeful, shameful, and delayed response to the coronavirus pandemic—not blaming the leaders who are perfect, just the “federal government”— and a further eroding of regulation and oversight with increasing privatization of systems–putting more and more power into the hands of the military-industrial complex that Eisenhower warned against in his presidential farewell address in 1961. Maybe I now sound like a conspiracy theorist.

The dire situation created by this pandemic with clear evidence emerging of health disparities and inequities would appear to make the case for a universal health care system in the US a no-brainer. But, alas. How persons can refuse to support implementation of basic options is hard to comprehend. The irrational (to me) fear of universal health coverage in the US stems from a lack of education as to what it truly means as well as the plethora of misinformation spread by those with a vested interest in the status quo. The government already contributes a huge portion of health care financial support but it gets little public credit, even from those who benefit. The worst is when folks use the example of how many of the Canadians are dissatisfied with their system–a blatant lie–I actually know a fair number of Canadians (some are family) and have heard almost nothing negative and a great deal of positive reports. Universal coverage is not cosmetic surgery or new joints for everyone dissatisfied with old ones or death panels. Universal health is about keeping blood pressure under control and getting the needed insulin for diabetics and having proper care during pregnancy and birth and keeping children healthy, and on and on. The real death panels are those groups who fight against basic health coverage for all in order to maximize profits for some person, group, or some institution. For those without insurance or who are underinsured, untreated high blood pressure can be a death sentence and a preexisting condition can be a death sentence.

Message to seniors on Medicare (universal health for older Americans)–Seniors (Gray Panthers if anyone recalls were one very vocal group) in the past fought for your health benefits for a population on fixed incomes. You should be fighting now for universal coverage for your children and grandchildren, many of whom are not as well off financially as you are today.

Star Date 6 April 2020—Lockdown Day 5—Gaborone, Botswana

Today offered MacGyver challenges–first, constructing a mask for walking through public spaces and, second, repairing the 7-year-old iPad cover that fell apart last night. After trying a bandana, cowboy-style, around John’s face and then wrapping an airplane eyeshade with a bandana, the third try involved a cowboy-style bandana with the ends tucked into the baseball cap adjusting strap. Worked today but who knows tomorrow? The iPad cover is back on the iPad after duct tape to the rescue. Everyone should have a roll of duct tape handy.

Everyone’s fear these days is the overuse of the internet with stay-at-home workers on Zoom or Skype or some other go-to-meeting app and others streaming movies or sports reruns or just aimlessly surfing the net or checking Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or other sites. Guess I just described myself.

Botswana now has 6 reported cases, primarily brought in by travelers and diagnosed in quarantine. I stay home and John works in an almost-empty building. Thinking about cooking is fun. Had a request today for my Nigerian pepper soup–if anyone else is interested in this slow cooker easy recipe that can be vegan or not, just look down towards the bottom of this blog.

Star Date 5 April 2020—Lockdown Day 4—Gaborone, Botswana

Today on Twitter was a terrific OR scene with 4 or 5 women surgeons and comments about the changing face of surgery and the need for more women to choose surgery as a career. But there may be good reasons why this is moving less rapidly than some would hope, although tremendous progress has occurred in the last 10-15 years. The system must be examined in addition to the culture. Medical institutions are studying pay differentials, promotion criteria, and creating additional academic tracts, but these are only part of the system deficits. The spotlight should also be focusing on provision of sufficient, appropriate, and convenient (not just additional) on-site childcare with breastfeeding options as well as breast-pumping rooms, more attention to generous parental leave policies, adding elder and family care leave with pay & benefits, improved clerical and IT support to eliminate night-time computer pt. record-keeping….. In a survey done of housestaff several years ago, we learned that even single males believed that guaranteed child care would make a residency position more attractive. All of these issues are PEOPLE friendly, not just women friendly.

Article in today’s New York Times by Nashville’s Margaret Renkl is worth reading “In the American South, a Perfect Storm Is Gathering” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/03/opinion/coronavirus-Tennessee-southern-states.html?smid=fb-share&fbclid=IwAR2NDuwPgMofJ-f9q6dQ5zNnMxzoNId857eUcoFJ-7-A07M3KjzSNlvn5wY– Expanding Medicaid became a political football unwanted by certain states — now it appears that those states’ most vulnerable will suffer–again and repeatedly.
How did the health of a nation become politicized? I fear we must follow the money and see who profits the most–sort of like those book and TV mysteries and police procedurals.
COVID-19 will enrich many as well. We live in a society where the world turned upside down. Experts are replaced by cronies and sycophants. Military heroes are demeaned and war criminals glorified. Truth-tellers are fired or even get death threats. Christian business owners turn employees out with no safety net.
Voting is the answer and we must protect this privilege for ourselves and for others and exercise it.

With Nashville the Buckle on the Bible Belt as well as Music City USA, this Washington Post opinion piece by Kristin Kobes Du Mez is worth your time. “Some evangelicals deny the coronavirus threat. It’s because they love tough guys. White evangelical conservatives don’t take the novel coronavirus seriously because they believe in a muscular Christianity.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/04/02/conservative-evangelicals-coronavirus-tough-guys/

Suggested activity if physical distancing is maintained: Picking up trash in the neighborhood wearing sturdy rubber gloves is a great exercise for kids (and adults) and helps the environment. Just need gloves, a bag, and -now–a mask. Kids likely love masks! Maybe a reflector vest is needed on a highway but kids of joggers should have those. Trash is everywhere in public spaces where traffic isn’t an issue. Was reminded of this after seeing a Facebook post by a friend suggesting a scavenger hunt for recyclables. Movement with purpose is much more fun! Just messaged my friend to inform him I used his idea.

Star Date 4 April 2020—Lockdown Day 3—Gaborone, Botswana

We’re still at 4 cases in Botswana–all from the travelers quarantine which shows benefit of that exercise and the government’s effective proactive efforts.

Trolling the web and making frequent forays in Facebook and Twitter fill the day. A bonus today was streaming the 2 Vanderbilt chief resident grand round presentations from yesterday. We also watched two other chiefs last week–all 4 talks superb. Hooking the laptop to the TV and viewing in 40″ splendor adds to the experience although I miss the sausage biscuits we had at physical surgery grand rounds.

Since it’s hot-breakfast Saturday, homemade biscuits were on the menu along with bacon, sliced tomatoes, and fried eggs. Haven’t made them in many months, but biscuits are extremely easy–they were considered “quick breads” when I was in 4-H as a kid. I use self-rising flour, oil (just pour in with the milk–no cutting or blending), and milk, stir together and pat out on the counter–no rolling. Cut out circles with a water glass and bake! The Pic ‘n Pay bacon here is great but there’s no sausage like Tennessee sausage.

Book Recommendation: John is reading David Halberstam’s The Children about the students from the 3 historically black schools in Nashville–Tennessee State (A&I), Fisk, and American Baptist College, who led the civil rights movement in Nashville. I read it years ago because I volunteered in the library at American Baptist and was privileged to meet some of those students who had become pastors and academic leaders.

Video Worth Viewing: Those looking for an entertaining Netflix documentary that sheds light on the religious mindset of some of political leaders in Washington should pull up “The Family,” a 5-part miniseries based on the book by Jeff Sharlet. We’ve actually heard Doug Coe, a principle in the series, speak several times. No spoilers but it’s eye-opening.

Star Date 2 April 2020—Lockdown Day 1—Gaborone, Botswana

History continues to be made as we face an epic and unique global phenomenon.  The 1919 flu epidemic affected the world but 20^th and 21^st centuries medical advances and information delivery  differentiate the 1919 and 2020 pandemics.  A number of friends and colleagues suggest we should all make notes or keep a journal. Many of us are emailing family and friends regularly (maybe more often than pre-pandemic) and those communications can be saved for family and even future historians.  My plan is to retrieve my emails and pull them together by date and hope save in a file that will be retrievable in the future—the cloud, hard drive??

What am I doing now that lockdown has occurred? Actually, the same things I did before because I’ve always worked from home here in Gabs. Most of the day is spent trolling the web for information for various groups. The University of Botswana medical faculty want up-to-date info; therefore, I was tasked with providing a daily information sheet with links about news, coronavirus science, and educational resources starting the 1st of April. This week I also:

— did literature searches for several folks as they look towards possible research topics

–peer-reviewed a manuscript for a surgical journal

–sent updates to family and friends of the situation here in Botswana. Government very proactive here–closing schools and university almost 2 weeks ago and instituting a travelers 2-week quarantine. Had our first 4 diagnosed cases this week–all in quarantine as they returned from international trips

–went to the nearby mall for groceries but bought much larger quantities in anticipation of 4 weeks of travel and purchasing restrictions–sadly, no onions

–used the slow cooker for a tasty and fairly easy potato soup recipe found online. Also finally assembled and employed the hand blender purchased last year to puree the potato chunks–magic!

–did a 30-minute yoga workout each morning

–watched mindless TV while doing boring web searches

And it’s only Thursday!

Seen in the media and my reactions:

Health professionals being fired for revealing supply and equipment deficits.  “Incredible and horrifying–medical ethics teaches that telling the truth is the right thing to do–healthcare workers should be honored not punished!!”

Physical (sounds better than social) distancing will flatten the curve and save lives.  “Explains vital nature of physical distancing and staying home in this period.” 

Saw in a business journal that supplies in short supply are actually being allowed to be exported for profit.  “Did u know masks are being allowed to be sold overseas?”

The US got a late start in taking COVID-19 seriously.  “Tragic–trying to close the barn door after the horse has escaped….we all should be angry as we watch not only strangers but family and friends contract this virus.”

Read about a potential money-saving ventilator that could have been a life saver today that got lost in the shuffle of consolidation by a big-business medical device manufacturer. “The for-profit model of medical devices is why we need government intervention.”

22 March 2020–

Greetings from Gaborone, Botswana. Presently, it looks like we will weather the COVID-19 storm here where, as of today, no case has been diagnosed–but likely it’s a matter of time. The Botswana government and leaders are proactive–schools have closed, gatherings of >50 are discouraged, social distancing encouraged (shoe bumps, elbow and shoulder bumps allowed). The medical students at the University of Botswana were released 3 days ago so my medical ethics class is over for a month or more.

Some of u may have seen this excellent article–None of us should judge the faith of those we disagree with politically. We can’t read hearts. Civility is needed on both sides. https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/who-made-us-god?fbclid=IwAR0-krF3dAgQQr-QSL1MnFXLrhG5DrNLHeeOHhT8UEQQcrz6oskZ5mbzBDw

I don’t apologize for holding “liberal” views but years ago in the 1990s when the Southern Baptists were splitting, we noticed the ultra-left and the ultra-right were not dissimilar — both seemed to espouse “my way or the highway.”
It’s embarrassing when liberals make disparaging remarks about others. Loving your neighbors and your enemies should prevail on both sides of the aisle.

20 March 2020–The world turned upside down!! Who would have thought 10 days could bring so many never-before experienced happenings? Then today we are hearing about profiteering from delays in informing Americans about the seriousness of COVID-19. “It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good…” but the possibility of greed driving the withholding of the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic to protect rich persons financial interests goes beyond bad towards evil. We will wait to see verifications but we know insider trading happens–remember Martha Stewart served jail time–

For persons who want to move beyond following news reports on CNN or BBC or Fox or those persons who are looking for alternatives to reruns of TV shows, the following is a list of online educational and entertaining options:

FUN THINGS TO DO WHILE STUCK AT HOME

YOGA WITHOUT A TEACHER– Google SHELLEY NICOLE—YOGA TEACHER youtube—VOLS 1, 2, AND 3 (I alternate each morning, 5 days/week) –if I add the hot links, it puts pictures on the blog–not sure if that’s allowed.

INTERNET ARCHIVE–Internet Archive is a non-profit library of millions of free books, movies, software, music, websites, and more.

https://archive.org/

CHATTERPACK.NET

https://chatterpack.net/blogs/blog/list-of-online-resources-for-anyone-who-is-isolated-at-home?fbclid=IwAR1J-9tbgECqsEwdROMacIVnox9all7WPY8b5GoLwqmYXuBr9VIoTj2IueU

A list of free, online, boredom-busting resources! Click on any of the underlined headings/links below to find out more. Sign up for the FREE monthly newsletter here Virtual tours Roman fort  Museums from around the world – Virtual, online tours Access to 500 Museums & Art Galleries – Free, online Future Learn – Explore the architecture and history of Rome, walking around a 3D digital model of the ancient city, with this free online course. Virtual Tours  – Virtual online tours – including zoos, landmarks in foreign countries, etc. Aquarium – Georgia aquarium allowing you to tour under the sea Online learning University of Alabama – Free online archaeology and Egyptology Uni courses (create an account to log on) Open Learn – Free, online courses, Open university  BBC languages – Learn languages online free FrenchTeacher.Net – Free French study packs Sociology courses – Free online study Creative courses – Free online study A range of short, free online courses   Geography and nature National Geographic Tutorful – Top Geography websites, YouTube

15 Broadway plays on film and where they are available to watch–I haven’t watched any but thought it was worth sharing if u haven’t seen it–

https://www.playbill.com/article/15-broadway-plays-and-musicals-you-can-watch-on-stage-from-home?fbclid=IwAR0ltsD5729XqHL6wOeCcxJWT_1RVzzZ5FuOm6TWs6WcWVZfnuLCr6MIc-Y

10 March 2020–2020 purports to be the most exciting year in decades–coronavirus, quarantines, universities ceasing all classes except online, meetings cancelled, presidential primaries and an election that affects the globe, crashing oil prices, and stocks falling, etc., etc., etc.

Faced with an upcoming trip from Botswana to the US in 3 weeks, John and I are “reviewing the situation.” One of the 2 meeting–Unite for Sight at Yale–has been changed from a gathering to an online version. No word on the second meeting. Potential quarantines in unexpected places make travel risky but exciting in a weird sort of way.

18 February 2020–The past few weeks included the impeachment without conviction (no surprise) and continued disarray for Democrats as they (we) try to pick a candidate to face President Trump. Sad to watch the Senate do a rubberstamp rather than seek to examine the evidence. John Bolton’s book will be a best seller but some reports of censorship are worrisome. The Bloomberg movement with many millions of personal money invested in the campaign for the most powerful position in the world is actually quite understandable–if someone has enough money. Even moving into 2nd place in polls and qualifying for the debate tomorrow is late-breaking news as I watch CNN from Botswana. The coronavirus outbreak leads many news reports as quarantines continue and airports around the world are checking passenger temperatures as they seek to enter a country. On Friday, I returned from a committee trip to Tunis via Paris from Botswana and observed health checks in the airports with additional forms to fill out here in Botswana.

On the plane the only movie I watched was “Jojo Rabbit,” about a young Nazi youth recruit in the last months of World War II–no spoilers but I highly recommend it–6 Academy Award nominations with one win for adapted screenplay. Some of the reviews I read were mixed but I thought it was worth its recognition.

Check out the recent 2020 Newbery and Caldecott award winners in children’s literature, especially during Black History month:

New Kid by Jerry Craft— the first graphic novel to receive the Newbery
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Kadir Nelson, won the Caldecott Medal

I’ve sent copies to family and friends and am hearing good reports.

28 January 2020–Cursive handwriting and breastfeeding: What are common denominators? Both are related to good starts–one in school and one in life. Some studies show that starting cursive rather than printing in K-1 is related to improvement in learning to read. Myriad studies encourage breastfeeding from birth through 6 months or longer if possible. Cursive writing hasn’t made the cut in all the testing that is worshipped by current educational institutions but one study showed slightly better scores on SAT essays written in cursive (https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/03/weekinreview/03lewin.html).

So back to breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is a choice–not every woman even wants to –or is able to–breastfeed. Breastfeeding is a healthy choice, but breastfeeding in public continues to annoy, embarrass, and be “seen” as something to be done behind closed doors–likely more for the sensibilities of those who might see it happening rather than the mothers committed to giving their children a healthy start. Don’t forget the convenience factors of freedom from formula and cleaning equipment. Getting clean and appropriate spaces to pump has gotten traction in many workplaces but only as an uphill effort. Breastfeeding in public is legal in all 50 states (https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-in-public/) but news reports declare pushback in public spaces.

Hopefully, the following article is a satire or send-up—if not, it very much explains why folks may treat breastfeeding women without respect (https://www.theodysseyonline.com/why-women-should-never-breastfeed-in-public). Children need to see public breastfeeding–my sample of one is that when I was 7 or 8 years old, I was riding a public bus to my elementary school in San Diego and a woman was breastfeeding her baby. I never forgot it and I became a breastfeeding convert at age 7 or 8–and never waivered.

My soapbox oratory is based on my belief that not just legalizing public breastfeeding but encouraging it will hopefully lead more folks to respect and promote it, not just tolerate it.

Last words: Encourage schools or home schooling parents to bring back cursive handwriting and be an advocate for breastfeeding in public. Maybe these are not equal issues but I only promised random thoughts–not logical.

22 January 2020–As the Trump Impeachment trial begins, the Davos World Economic Forum concludes, sugar is still subsidized (see Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/john-stossel-welfare-for-the-rich-the-incredible-truth-about-americas-multibillion-dollar-sugar-program), fossil fuels continue receiving government tax breaks (https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-fossil-fuel-subsidies-a-closer-look-at-tax-breaks-and-societal-costs), and attacks on the Affordable Health Care Act abound despite evidence of its effectiveness, the world keeps rotating.

Leeman Tarpley Kessler granted permission for his Martin Luther King Day, Mt. Vernon, Ohio, address to be shared:

Leeman Kessler, Mayor of Gambier January 20 at 7:46 PM

My friend was kind enough to write down my speech from today’s Dr. King Breakfast at MVNU.

“In 1962, when my father was 17, he had his name added to a list – a list of enemies of the state of Mississippi. He was protesting a segregationist speaker along with his friends and they refused to stand when Dixie was played. Three years later, my grandfather was put on that same list – this time for demanding justice, for defending another pastor who had been shot in the back of the head for preaching against segregation.

This list was compiled by the state of Mississippi’s Sovereignty Commission, was paid for by taxpayers, and this list would go on to include over 87,000 individuals over the 20 years it was compiled. The list was used to intimidate, it was used to harass, it was used in coordination with local government and hate groups to get people fired, to get people evicted, to drive them out. And it was all done in the name of community and fighting back against perceived chaos.

And I tell this story to people for two reasons: the first is to show that even though my family benefited from the power of white supremacy, the power of segregation, no one was immune to the threat that racism requires, the violence that white supremacy demands. And the second thing is to show that this work was work. It was paid for, it was active.

I think it is very easy for us to think about racism, to think about white supremacy as some sort of natural state – something that happens in the past, we can forgive it because its just the way things are and it takes work to push past it. But that’s not true; hatred requires work, active work. We know that from the way that propaganda was pushed about the lost cause myth in order to justify a war to defend chattel slavery. The same lost cause myth was used to defend white supremacist domestic terrorism for decades. We know it took active work to do redlining. We knew it took active work to create sundown towns, to put racial quotas in immigration.

A good friend of mine is an economic historian and he has a line I think about a lot, which is that “there is no place in America that got as white as it did by accident.” It took work. And because it took work to build, it means that it takes work to dismantle. You can’t be passive; you can’t just hope it will go away. We see the work of hatred; the work of racism still at play today and there is still a great deal of work left to be done.

As an elected official, I have to remember that all of this work that happened to build white supremacy, to build segregation, it all happened with the complicity of government – on the federal level, on the state level, and on the local level. People of good faith who thought they were building community, people of good faith who thought they were building bulwarks against chaos, they turned a blind eye to injustice, or used the strict letter of the law to enforce injustice.

And so as I look at my own role in government, I have to ask myself how am I confusing chaos with community. How am I allowing my own privilege, my own prejudices to conflate these two? And I think the answer to comes down to “who is my neighbor?” That is the greatest defense against this confusion. The broader you can define who your neighbor is, the broader you can define who belongs, the richer a world you’re going to create. I think that is the important work that we all have to do – and it is work, it is hard. It has taken centuries to build up this racist structure; it may take centuries to tear it down. But that is the work that we’ve been given to do. God bless.”

11 January 2020–What a crazy 9 days since I blogged–brink of war, another airplane tragedy, horrible fires, impeachment—hard to know what to share that doesn’t seem trivial–watching a rerun of the Golden Globe awards, reading a couple of Swedish mysteries as well as the sequel to the Handmaid’s Tale, attending medical education meetings, angsting over the launch of a training program, watching a Facebook video of a son’s swearing in as the mayor of an Ohio village, etc., etc, etc.

Did you know that defense contractor and weapons maker stock prices rose when the Iranian general was killed? (https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/01/04/if-you-are-wondering-who-benefits-weapons-makers-see-stocks-surge-trump-moves-closer). Did u know oil prices rose at the same time? (https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/oil-prices-surge-stocks-slip-us-kills-iran-68050405). If this doesn’t bother you, I believe you should think harder about the consequences (other than profits if u invest in these things). If we think outside the box, maybe the companies that make weapons of mass destruction should return all profits to the US treasury to be used for peaceful infrastructure projects rather than enriching shareholders. But who would invest if there was no profit? Do we ever wonder if the endless wars we’ve been involved in are encouraged by those industries that profit? Even as a child, I wondered if companies would make weapons if it was nonprofit.

And while we are thinking outside the box, let’s bring back the draft for women as well as men this time. Why shouldn’t women have opportunities such as post-service education?

Would we fight endless wars if we thought our educated middle-class kids had to go? Currently it is a choice, but the multiple tours forced on many folks contribute to PTSD and catastrophic injuries and family problems from long separations and put a huge burden on the VA and other veteran services who often are not provided the financial support deserved that allows them to serve those who have sacrificed so much. Regardless of how one feels about war, we are obligated to do our best for those who serve, even if we must pay more taxes.

A tax cut that primarily benefits those who already are financially comfortable is wrong–morally repugnant and very unchristian from my perspective– if it means cutting back on services to the hungry, the young, the poorly educated, those medically unserved or underserved. And don’t you dare tell me that Canadians are unhappy with their health care system. I have both family and friends who think it is terrific–not perfect–but still to be envied by those in the US who have little or no coverage. Look up where the US falls in health indicators–if you think we are excellent by the world’s standards, you would be mistaken. We are No. 28 (https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(16)31467-2.pdf). Slovenia and Greece among others are higher than we are but we did beat out Estonia.

2 January 2020–Happy new year! Not one to do annual resolutions, this post will share about a resolution from 10 years ago–regular exercise. Every internet feed and news article touted regular exercise, something I interpreted personally as “lifestyle exercising.” I walked fast, used the stairs at work and home, and didn’t try to park next to the store entrance–this worked up to a point but wasn’t designed for flexibility. Yoga became a ubiquitous term from the football field to corporate offices. One week a notice appeared in our church bulletin that yoga classes would be offered at church. Since I worship convenience and church was walking distance from work, I started to go and the time I picked–mid morning once a week–was so poorly attended, I often had private lessons.

Eventually, the class moved to Wednesday at 6 pm and was the exercise highlight of my week. After moving to Kenya and then Rwanda in 2016, finding a class was not so easy but I did find a regular gathering in Rwanda. Then Botswana in 2018 offered classes at a local gym but the times (6pm or 630pm) were awful for someone who could walk over in daylight but needed a taxi to get home in the dark. Why I never thought of YouTube in my first 2 or 3 years, I’ll never know; but when I finally explored that option, I found my teacher and have 30-minute workouts every morning in our apartment–free!

Why some Christians have no problems with Christmas trees and evergreen decorations that were once likely symbols of non-Christian faith systems and think yoga exercising is a form of non-Christian worship, I don’t fully understand. I just googled Christian views of yoga–some declare that it shouldn’t be practiced by Christians—but stretching is good and healthy–one friend calls it “nonreligious yoga”–guess that works and I’ll try to use that term in appropriate settings.

29 December–How many folks know what a VPN is? Even though several weeks ago I purchased a 3-year contract for VPN service (80% off–couldn’t resist even though I wasn’t exactly sure how it worked but if I did figure it out, it was a bargain), just now I was forced to google to learn that VPN means “virtual private network.” After hearing folks say that VPNs were handy when living or traveling internationally, I still didn’t know I needed one until my quest to secure a way to stream the College Football Championship games for John. First, I asked around about Gaborone, Botswana, sports bars or some American group that watches U.S. sports but couldn’t locate any so was forced to go to Plan B. I know my Nashville cable carrier allows streaming of stations they broadcast, so if I could reach that, I could get the games. One problem with living in Africa is that web sites recognize where we are located when accessing sites and we often get blocked for services such as streaming. VPNs appear to disguise the user’s location–I can actually choose where to report my location–voila–a “virtual” location.

John watched much of the Memphis–Penn State game last night and this morning at 6:30 am our time (CAT) got to see the 4th quarter of the electrifying Clemson-Ohio State 4th quarter with the last second win for the Tigers. The time difference (8 hours ahead of Nashville) causes issues as most important games are in the middle of the night here.

28 December–Several days behind in blogging as I think about watching “White Christmas” on Christmas Day via Netflix. Never had watched it before although the title song has been heard hundreds of times over the years. What a fun movie! Shows that violence, profanity, and nudity aren’t required for entertainment—well, at least for some of us. Most of our colleagues and friends travel during these holidays but we stayed put–our only gift exchange was a bag of peanut M&Ms.

Every Saturday, John and I enjoy a hot breakfast. Today was easy pancakes (I cup self-rising flour, I cup plain yogurt and 2 eggs) with homemade maple syrup (2 cups sugar and 1 cup water brought to a boil and add 1 t. maple extract and 1 t. vanilla) and fresh blueberries (lots being grown in Africa for export–blue gold). Had to order the maple extract from Amazon in November because our Nashville stores don’t seem to stock it any more.

23 December–Four twenty-something women and I formed the audience for the 2:15 pm matinee showing of “Frozen II.” No children in attendance but someone left a booster seat in the chair next to mine so apparently some small-stature types have seen it. The storyline seemed a bit complex for the very young and some of the scenes were intense but I got my money’s worth of entertainment as well as getting to keeping up with what my grandkids (and kids) are likely watching. Perhaps hoping for discernable character development in a Disney animated feature was a stretch, but likely those who watched the first film innumerable times (I heard rumors it was on a loop in some homes–no hard data) knew what was going on better than I did. By the end, I think I figured most of it out. Presently, “Coco” remains my favorite animated film of the past decade–actually brilliant.

22 December–Who knew Adam Driver, a.k.a. Kylo Ren of the “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” film viewed yesterday, stars in the Golden Globe-acclaimed “Marriage Story”? Just watched “Marriage Story” on Netflix (yes, we get it in Botswana) and then checked all the 2020 Golden Globe nominees–MS got 6 including Driver and his co-star Scarlett Johansson! Now that I live within walking distance of a theatre with first-run movies and have Netflix and Prime, I’m going to try to keep up with hyped movies–so far, I’m enjoying those I’ve watched.

21 December (shortest/longest day of the year, depending on hemisphere)–Guess we just returned from our Christmas present to each other — “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.” This film got a highly positive review from John–“Maybe my favorite Star Wars.” If strong women, diversity of cast and characters, fast-paced action, video-game-style violence, and space warp travel ring your bell, go see this entertaining movie. Here in Botswana, we shared the 11 am showing at our nearby shopping mall cinema with one or two other folks–but it was released on the 16th so maybe there were long lines then. No spoilers in this review (unless u count above comments). We always stay through all the credits–those hundreds of folks (maybe thousands) who worked in some capacity deserve someone to see their names—plus we saw the real ending of “Black Panther” that a number of folks missed when we stayed through the credits. Won’t tell u if staying through the credits reveals further action.

20 Dec 2019–What a week!! Last week elections in Britain that appear to bring Brexit closer and the Weds in the US when the House voted to impeach President Trump. Now drama shifts to our Senate to see who will support conviction or acquittal (just had to check spelling on acquittal :)). No matter one’s party, politics, or beliefs, the news of what is happening in our country and around the globe is disheartening!!

Now if only automatic weapons could be banned–as one who grew up in a “gun” home where hunting was a norm and rifles and shotguns were part of the furniture, the idea of automatic weapons as sport arms was unthinkable. I even have my NRA perfect target from 4-H camp rifle range.

Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg as Person of the Year offered a spark of hope that some people see climate change as a coming disaster for our children and grandchildren. Just learned her middle names and “Tintin” reminds me of the graphic novels (we called them comics) about Tintin the adventurer.

First blog–Since we are currently living and working in Africa, my first rant will involve the need to recognize the sources of African academic literature including medical and scientific resources that may not be found in Western databases, African Journals Online (https://www.ajol.info/index.php) should be bookmarked by anyone doing research on African topics. Useful resources include

• African Journals Online (AJOL)       http://www.ajol.info/
• Bioline  http://www.bioline.org.br/
• African Index Medicus from the World Health Organization with the Association for Health Information and Libraries in Africa (AHILA).  http://indexmedicus.afro.who.int/#
• AAS Open Research (African Academy of Science) https://aasciences.ac.ke
• African Journal Archive (The African Journal Archive is  retrospective open access service preserving and making available African journal articles, some dating to 1906, from a number of publishers and societies in Africa)  https://journals.co.za/content/collection/open-access
• The African e-Journals Project from the Michigan State University Library has digitized full text of articles of eleven social science and humanities journals.   http://digital.lib.msu.edu/projects/africanjournals/ 
• AfricArxiv— A free preprint service for African scientists     https://osf.io/preprints/africarxiv
• DOAJ  by Country https://doaj.org/search?source=%7B%22query%22%3A%7B%22filtered%22%3A%7B%22filter%22%3A%7B%22bool%22%3A%7B%22must%22%3A%5B%7B%22term%22%3A%7B%22_type%22%3A%22journal%22%7D%7D%5D%7D%7D%2C%22query%22%3A%7B%22match

More Rants

On-site child care in hospitals should offer hours that fit with the schedules of medical professionals who work 7 days a week and often start before 6 am and are on duty till late in the evening. Article after article on the difficulties faced by women physicians with children almost always mention–often deep in the text–that concern about child care is one of the heavy burdens bourn by these professionals. The two-physician couples are increasing common and acceptable child care is often an issue. In 2013, at Vanderbilt we published an article showing that residents, male and female, would rank higher a program guaranteeing child care for trainees–The case for on-site child care in residency training and afterward (full text at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3771163/).

Climate change is real and scientifically provable. Why do we trust science for medical advancements or improved aircraft but deny the obvious evidence of melting glaciers and ice sheets, rising sea levels, and increasing average temperatures. The UN Climate Action Summit opened today in New York–23 September 2019. The Chinese are building a solar farm each day–what is the US doing? Although I’ve committed to low-energy light bulbs, my air flight carbon footprint is embarrassing. Even though the planes will fly without me, I am part of the problem. We have cut back drastically on consuming beef, chicken, and other meats, but here in Botswana, recycling takes a great deal of effort and I don’t.

Admitting the truth about climate change seems to be related to how it affects short-term profits rather than the future of global inhabitants, especially the poor and powerless. This article from the Los Angeles Times in 2015 might be of interest–

Big Oil Braced for Global Warming While It Fought Regulations By Amy Lieberman And Susanne Rust (http://graphics.latimes.com/oil-operations/) Dec. 31, 2015

Water—”If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down.”  Inspired by living in an area where water to flush wasn’t always in the commode tank and might come by pouring a bucket in the bowl,  a friend needlepointed this aphorism for us many years ago and I still have it tucked away in a bathroom closet in Nashville.  A reminder of times past.

In much of urban North America, water seems limitless as well as cheap but in many places in the world, folks struggle to haul water from standpipes or buy it from water trucks.  Why do we think we have to flush every time? Seems like it’s a rule from early toilet training or from kindergarten where it might make some sense.  In our own homes, maybe we should rethink the yellow vs. brown condition. 

Another frightening fact is the amount of water required to produce certain food items including meat.  The Guardian (UK) article might be a place to start  — How much water is needed to produce food and how much do we waste?https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/jan/10/how-much-water-food-production-waste

Some think wars of the future will be over water, not oil or other mineral resources.  Maybe water is already a factor.

Book Recommendations:

John Killinger’s Seven Things They Don’t Teach You in Seminary— Reads like a good novel for pastors–past and present–and their families, for PKs (preacher’s kids), MKs (missionary kids), and all folks who have been active in mainline or evangelical churches.

Lee Child’s Jack Reacher book series–all are great reads–well written and entertaining.

Although this story about strong women in Mississippi came out 10 years ago, The Help by Kathryn Stockett is worth rereading (or reading for the first time) as we continue to see race issues play out daily in the news. The movie adaptation received several Academy Award nominations and might be an acceptable substitute.

Recent Movies

In order to keep up with my kids and my friends who enjoy movies, I occasionally catch a recent release. In the past few months I’ve actually gone to the theatre to see “Avengers: End Game,” “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood,” and “Joker.” See above for more recently-viewed films.

Netflix offers fairly recent movies as does my cable TV system here in Botswana. Just watched on Netflix Meryl Streep in “The Laundromat,” a depressing but fascinating 2019 dramatization of the 2015 Panama Papers story wherein global financial crime touches all of us. The most depressing aspect is how the rich and powerful avoid paying their fair share of taxes.

Highly recommended is the 2017 “The Children Act” with Emma Thompson as a British judge in family court. Issues addressed involve medical ethics, religious concerns, personal relationships and boundaries therein.

Watched “Joker” in the theatre because of all the hype and varied reviews. Very dark–not exactly entertaining but the Joaquin Phoenix acting is superb. Then a few days later I saw him on the plane in “Walk the Line” that earned him an Oscar nomination playing Johnny Cash. Guess I’m out of touch with entertainment culture—I didn’t know who he was until the “Joker.” Extraordinary performer.

Viewed the new “Lion King” on the plane–animals are realistic but it is not better than the cartoon or the stage play. The music was especially disappointing.

Adapting Favorite Recipes and Using Cookbooks from Africa

Living in Africa the past 3 years has encouraged me to adapt my favorite easy slow cooker recipes for a place where ready-to-use foods aren’t always available. One recipe , Nigerian Pepper Soup, has evolved from totally from scratch to totally from ready to use and back to a hybrid. At the beginning the recipe came from a Nigerian friend and terrific cook and involved peeling, chopping, and food processor grinding. Eventually, I was using cans of tomatoes with chilis, frozen onions and green peppers. Back in Africa meant a return to peeling and chopping if cans and frozen items weren’t available. Borrowed a slow cooker in Kenya but found a 220-volt cooker online in the US for use in Rwanda. Sadly, it was broken in my luggage on the way to Botswana; but fortunately, they are available for sale in Botswana, so it was my first kitchen purchase.

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Efo (Nigerian Spinach)   1   32 oz. bag of frozen chopped spinach 2    10 oz. bags frozen chopped onions 1     T.  olive oil or other oil Salt to taste Pepper to taste   Heat oil in large sauce pan.  Add onions and sauté until thawed.  Sprinkle generous amount of salt and pepper on onions.  Stir in spinach and add more salt and pepper.  Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes—hour, stirring regularly to avoid sticking.

Efo (Nigerian Spinach)   4 or 5 bunches fresh spinach, chopped 4 chopped fresh onions 1     T.  olive oil or other oil Salt to taste Pepper to taste   Remove stems from spinach before chopping leaves. Heat oil in large sauce pan.  Add onions and sauté until thawed.  Sprinkle generous amount of salt and pepper on onions.  Stir in spinach and add more salt and pepper.  Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes—hour, stirring regularly to avoid sticking.

Nigerian Groundnut Soup (Vegetarian)   4 15 oz. cans of tomatoes and green chilies 8 oz. tomato paste 6 bouillon cubes (beef or vegetable) 10 oz. frozen chopped onions 2 or 3 oz. frozen chopped green peppers ½ to 1 c. smooth or chunky peanut butter   Dump all ingredients in a large slow cooker and cook on low all day—8 hours or so. Serve over rice or Nigerian yam if you have it.

Nigerian Groundnut Soup—Kijabe Style (Vegetarian)   10 fresh tomatoes, chopped 16 oz. tomato paste 6 bouillon cubes (beef or vegetable) 2 onions chopped 1 green pepper chopped ½ to 1 c. smooth or chunky peanut butter 1 T. cayenne pepper ground—or more if you like it hotter   Dump all ingredients in a large pan, bring to a boil and simmer an hour OR dump everything in a large slow cooker and cook on low all day—8 hours or so. Serve over rice.

Nigerian Groundnut Soup with Meat Just add 2-3 lbs. of cubed beef to above ingredients (cheapest boneless cut—let butcher cube it for you—no charge!)

Nigerian Groundnut Soup with Meat Just add 1-2 lbs. of cubed beef to above ingredients. Cook till meat is tender (cheapest boneless cut—let butcher cube it for you—no charge!)

Efo (Nigerian Spinach)   1    32 oz. bag of frozen chopped spinach 2    10 oz. bags frozen chopped onions 1     T.  olive oil or other oil Salt to taste Pepper to taste   Heat oil in large sauce pan.  Add onions and sauté until thawed.  Sprinkle generous amount of salt and pepper on onions.  Stir in spinach and add more salt and pepper.  Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes—hour, stirring regularly to avoid sticking.

Efo (Nigerian Spinach)   4 or 5 bunches fresh spinach, chopped 4 chopped fresh onions 1     T.  olive oil or other oil Salt to taste Pepper to taste   Remove stems from spinach before chopping leaves. Heat oil in large sauce pan.  Add onions and sauté until thawed.  Sprinkle generous amount of salt and pepper on onions.  Stir in spinach and add more salt and pepper.  Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes—hour, stirring regularly to avoid sticking.

Black-eyed Peas (Until I ran into a long-time Nigeria/Sierra Leone missionary friend buying canned peas for a Nigerian dinner, I used dried black-eyed peas. She informed me that canned tasted much better!) 3 or 4 cans of black-eyed peas Black pepper to taste Dump cans with some of the liquid into a pan. Add pepper and heat through.

Beans (Cow Peas or Black-eyed Peas) 1 lb (1/2 kilo) dried cow peas Black pepper to taste Cover peas with water. Add pepper and cook in slow cooker on low all day or on a stove until done—several hours.

When we lived in Nigeria a favorite cookbook for many expatriates and missionaries was From the Crocodiles: from the International Women’s Club Kaduna, Nigeria. Recipes Can be found at https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/28708646/the-crocodile-cookbook-ecwa-evangel-hospital Accessed 18 Oct 2019.

When deciding to make lasagna in Kigali, Rwanda, assembling all the ingredients was a problem. After sharing this issue via email, a missionary friend suggested the Crocodile cookbook recipe for making cottage cheese from boiled milk and a little vinegar—problem solved!!

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