Science truly is amazing. A dinosaur found in Montana, studied by a team of researchers was found to have suffered from a bird-type lung disease, never before seen in a dinosaur. A relic of 150 million years ago, the bone that was found revealed that the long-necked herbivore had a viral infection that was so serious it altered the bones in the dinosaur's neck, and ultimately killed the suffering beast. Viruses have a truly ancient lineage, far pre-dating the presence of homo sapiens, and it's fair to say viruses have been haunting us since forever. Viruses seen in on-human animals can cross the species barrier as a zoonotic, just as has occurred with the SARS-CoV-2 virus causing COVID-19 and its mutated variants.

One thing always leads to another. The French virologist, Luc Montagnier, whose work in discovering the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS has just died. He was a Nobel Laureate, sharing the prize with a colleague and his work was vital in developing AIDS drugs and therapies. This man's virology work opened new avenues for those following him in the science. He reputation suffered, however when he claimed the coronavirus was a laboratory escapee having been created while researchers were in the process of developing a potential HIV vaccine.

From that to the Truckers Convoy in Ottawa now reaching into its third week of chaos and disruption in the city and at provincial border crossings between Canada and the U.S. The government response to the truckers' protests meant to have mandates lifted that have put people out of work who refuse to be vaccinated, has been controversial to say the least. The contempt expressed by the country's prime minister for the convoy and its supporters has served to exacerbate the situation, to make the protest leaders dig in their heels.

The truckers' cause is one embraced globally by people fed up with being marginalized, losing employment, coerced to do something they are not convinced they must do -- Dr.Montagnier for example went on record to oppose mandatory vaccinations in France -- and in sympathy with the trucking protest that has ballooned all over Canada, countries like New Zealand, Australia, France, Germany and others have seen their own truckers' convoys erupting.

 

As for us, another gloriously mild day was in the offing, with a heavy, low ceiling of grey clouds, wind and light snow flurries. All of which meant that Jackie and Jillie would have the freedom of a no-boots tramp through the forest trails. And they wore their comfy-lined rainjackets since it looked as though rain would come down at any moment, but failed to, to our relief.

 

The high temperature hit 2C by afternoon, but the wind and the damp atmosphere lacked that spring feeling that was so prominent the last few days. It never seems to fail, when we're tramping along the trails, suddenly we meet up with one of the many dogs familiar to us plunking itself down beside Irving and patiently awaiting acknowledgement. And as often happens, when one dog comes along -- much, much ahead of its human -- another will suddenly appear, and then another.

 

Jackie and Jillie have become familiar with this scenario, and have learned in fact, to look forward to them. Having realized that if cookies are being doled out they'll be the beneficiaries as well. Even though they had been given cookies at various points along the trails. Irving daren't now venture out of the house and into the ravine without taking preparatory precautions that he not disappoint the doggy community.