Category Archives: Uncategorized

Day 8 AL QASIM PROVINCE, Burayday, Ha’il – Dec 5, 2021 I started driving at 7 am to see a supposed Tentative WHS in Rafne. It was a very fast 150-180km/hour drive with a following wind. When I arrived at … Continue reading →

Saudi Arabia – Eastern Province (Damman, Khobar, Al Ahsa, Jubail) Nov 2-4, 2021 EASTERN PROVINCE. Covering the Gulf coast, the center of Saudi oil production Dhahran – the home of Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest petroleum company Empty Quarter (Rub’ al Khali) – … Continue reading →

Mule deer crossing a river in Wyoming. This is one of a growing number of animal species that can become infected with SARS-CoV-2. PHOTOGRAPH BY JOE RIIS , NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION COVID-19 is more widespread in animals than we … Continue reading →

After a 9 1/2 hour drive across the Empty Quarter, I arrived at Al-Kharj, ate, and found a hotel. Day 6 Heet Cave. This is not a tourist site!  About 50 km north of Al-Kharj, the last drive is on … Continue reading →

Why Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5 are causing fresh U.S. outbreaks More infectious than past strains, these subvariants can also more easily escape antibodies from vaccines and previous infections. BY SANJAY MISHRA JULY 1, 2022 National Geographic Two Omicron subvariants are … Continue reading →

Saudi Arabia – Asir (Abha), Al Baha The wide, 23 km long, 2-lane road from Al Bahah to Dhee Ayn was a marvel of engineering as it descended rugged cliffs to the bottom of the valley. Tunnels and bridges surmounted … Continue reading →

Those in peril in the sea A mix of natural resilience and human ingenuity can save endangered ecosystems Jun 2nd 2022 ECONOMIST  Human beings have been altering habitats—sometimes deliberately and sometimes accidentally—at least since the end of the last Ice … Continue reading →

Mauritius   Nov 22 – 26 2021 Flight to Mauritius. There are virtually no direct flights (Air Seychelles has one about every 10 days for 330E. There wasn’t one till the 24th. Most other flights were via Africa and over CAD$1350. … Continue reading →

Sir Isaac Newton (1642 – 1776) Isaac Newton was an English mathematician, physicist, astronomer, theologian, and author who is widely recognised as one of the greatest mathematicians, physicists, and most influential scientists of all time. He was a key figure in the philosophic revolution known as the Enlightenment. His … Continue reading →

SEYCHELLES Mahe  Nov 18-20, 2021 Get in. I flew on Emirates from Cairo via Dubai, leaving at 19:20 on an Airbus 380, a huge plane, and the only time I have been on such a big plane for 12 years. … Continue reading →