LIFE ON THE SILVER WHISPER

Our experience on Day 1 of our cruise on the Silver Whisper was greater than fine.  Possibly, this was the best beginning of a sea journey ever.  Before sharing why, a few news of the day items.

• The first story is also related to our cruise, because we are headed towards three hurricanes.  The first few hours were calm and safe.  As we entered the Pacific Ocean, we already were experiencing the effect of those storms, for through the night, I had difficulty walking from my bed to the bathroom and back.

• 
  I yesterday provided details on those three hurricanes,
• About Karina.
• Attained hurricane strength on August 30.
• Got up to 145 MPH on August 31, but also weakened down to 125 MPH,
• Up to 140 MPH on September 1.
• Up to 145 MPH on September 2.
• Down to 105 MPH on September 3, yesterday,
• Now at 90 MPH.
• Will further weaken and become a tropical storm either tomorrow or the next, September 6, my birthday,  Good gift if so,
• The Silver Whisper will not get to the Big Island of Hawaii until September 10.  By then, Karina will have passed sufficiently north of the state, but could also affect the height of waves through which the ship will pass
• We will spend September 10 in Hilo, move to Kahului, Maui on September 11, but return to Kailua, Kona on September 12.  We finally disembark in Honolulu on September 13.
• 
  Marie:
• Became a hurricane yesterday
• Is up to 100 MPH today, or Category 2 status.
• She will weaken back to a Category 1 hurricane tomorrow
• Maintain hurricane status on September 6, my birthday,
• Should become a tropical storm on September 7.
• The good thing about Marie is that her path now seems almost parallel to the Baha Peninsula, keeeping her far from Hawaii.

Hurricane Lowell has become truly dangerous.

• From Hawaii News Now,

That graphic above makes me wonder if these hurricanes an join to make a super hurricane.  So I asked Google AI:

Hurricanes Lowell and Karina will not combine into one giant hurricane, but Karina's weakening energy will be absorbed by a larger upper-level weather trough that alters Lowell's track toward Hawaii. [1]

How the Storms Interact

No Direct Merger: Unlike rare historical events where two equal tropical cyclones collide and merge into a single vortex (the Fujiwhara effect), Karina and Lowell are following separate paths. [1]
Energy Absorption: An approaching low-pressure trough from the North Pacific is expected to absorb Karina's remaining energy. [1]
The Steering Effect: As this trough absorbs Karina, it creates a larger weather pattern that breaks down the high-pressure ridge holding Lowell back, effectively steering Lowell sharply northward toward the Hawaiian Islands. [1, 2]

So no Fujiwhara effect.

Can Lowell's turn north send the eye over Niihau, Kauai or Oahu?  

• While possible, looks like that cone of uncertainty seems at this time only projected for Niihau, the westernmost island.  
• However, Niihau is only 17 miles from Kauai.
• The eye of Lowell is projected to pass west of Niihau by about 150 miles as a Category 2 hurricane late September 7.

Of course, there was Hurricane Iniki in 1992.

• Caused around $10 billion of damages (in 2026 dollars).
• Moved across Kauai at 100-120 MPH with gusts of 175 MPH. But downdrafts went as high as 200 MPH,
• Even Oahu experienced peak gusts of 82 MPH.
• Four weeks later, only 20% of power was restored on Kauai.
• Fighting chicken coops were flown apart, leading to what is today a minor problem with feral chickens today.

The projection for Hurricane Lowell is something similar.

The other big story of the day has to do with a what I've now and then been posting on this summer, as on 21August2026.

• The America's positivity rate was then 1.6%.  
• I reported:

Under 5%: Transmission is generally considered low and under control.
5% to 7.9%: Moderate community spread is occurring.
8% to 9.9%: Substantial spread is taking place.
10% or higher: High transmission and widespread active outbreaks are indicated. [1, 2, 3]

• Today, the U.S, rate is 4.6%.
• Hawaii?  Honolulu 10% and the island Kauai, 13%.
• Should you with to test yourself.

Flowflex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test: Widely recognized as the best budget-friendly choice, costing around $8 to $10 per test, and known for its high accuracy and ease of use. [1, 2, 3]

iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test: A top-rated option that features a companion smartphone app to track and log results, typically priced around $15 for a 2-pack. [1, 2]

BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test: One of the most trusted and widely available 2-test drugstore kits, usually costing about $23.99 at major pharmacies like Walgreens. [1]

CorDx TyFast Flu A/B & COVID-19 Rapid Test: A great combination choice if you want to test for both the flu and COVID-19 at the same time, priced around $15 to $31. [1, 2]

• 
  Latest info.
• Wave of summer 2026 is not as high as the summer of 2025,
• Texas if #1.
• Wastewater scans are detecting COVID-19 variants XFG, LF.7, NB.2.8.2 and BA.3.2.  There seems to be no new variant.
• In May, the USFDA  recommended the updated COVID vaccine targeting the XFG variant named Stratus,
• The FDA approved this vaccine from Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech ane Novavax-Sanofi.

Checking in baggage and the registration process were smooth,  Excellent greeting.

These bottles were provided to our stateroom at our request.  No cost,

The Silver Whisper departed Vancouver Port at 5:30PM.

We ordered caviar with all the trimmings, plus vodka for our veranda departure party.

Pre-dinner drinks with rhodoedendrum.

Dinner in The Restaurant was a joy.  Everything went well.  Started with soup and salad.

Wine was a bottle Cabernet Sauvignon from Grand Barossa, Australia.

Caesar Salad and New York Steak.

A blue cheese plate to end the meal

Went up to the Panorama Lounge.  Macallan with philodendron.

We closed the Panorama Lounge.  What a great day.  Probably our best first day on any cruise.

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COVID WATCH

Final night for the Democratic National Convention.  2,000 pro-Palestinian protesters marched yesterday.  All went well.  However, on Tuesday, there were 56 arrests at an un-sanctioned pro-Palestinian rally outside the Israeli Consulate.

Froma Harrop had an excellent op-ed today on Gutsy Republicans are Quiet Star of the Dems' Convention.  Stephanie Grisham, Trump's former press secretary, who was the first White-Houser to resign on 6January2021, shared the true character of Donald and Melania Trump.  Coming from an insider who was like family is just another confirmation of what everyone knows anyway.  Also mentioned other Republicans like Adam Kinzinger and John Giles.  Read this.

Otherwise, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to drop out of the race tomorrow and endorse Donald Trump.  Trump suggested in an interview this week that Kennedy would do an “incredible job” as a secretary of health and human services. Kennedy, a famous anti-vaccine advocate and conspiracy theorist, hasn’t shied away from floating his interest in a Cabinet position under Trump. But a position as an HHS secretary, by historical comparisons, would be an odd choice. For one, Kennedy has openly advocated for dismantling offices like the FDA and CDC and rebuilding them with like-minded fringe figures. Here’s what else Kennedy has advocated for.  Just another kook into this family of weird and creepy people.

Speaking of vaccinations, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved the updated COVID-19 vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna, targeting the KP.2 variant, which has been dominating this summer.  Yes, this is that same FDA that "future" Secretary of Health and Human Services Kennedy would dismantle.  The FDA also granted emergency use for Moderna's Spikevax and Comirnaty, jointly developed by Pfizer and BioNTech to those 6 months through 11 years of age.  The shot by Novavax has not yet been accepted.  15 Craigside, where I live, will have an in-house vaccination day for this booster on September 11.

Did you know that the youthful version of LONG COVID is different from adults?  At one time it was thought that only 1% of kids suffered from long COVID.  This new study says this estimate is now between 10% and 20%.  Adults are in the 10% range.

Among children ages 6 to 11, the researchers identified 10 symptoms strongly linked to Long COVID: 

• Trouble with memory or focus
• Back or neck pain
• Stomach pain
• Headaches
• Phobias
• Refusal to go to school (which Gross says may be an indicator of larger issues)
• Itchy skin or rash
• Trouble sleeping
• Nausea or vomiting
• Lightheadedness or dizziness

Surely sounds similar to that experienced by adults.  Further, this report indicated eight key symptoms for adolescents, ages 12 to 17:

• Change or loss of smell or taste
• Body, muscle, or joint pain
• Daytime sleepiness or low energy
• Fatigue after walking
• Back or neck pain
• Trouble with memory or focus
• Headaches
• Lightheadedness or dizziness 

COVID data show that there have been 112 million cases in the USA, which would calculate to 33% of Americans.  

• Except that 15% get it two and three times.  
• Another report says that 32% caught COVID only once, but 12% were infected twice, 3% thrice and 1% four times.  
• 46% have not yet had COVID.
• Except that researchers feel that more individuals actually were infected, but did not realize this happened because symptoms were mild to inconsequential.  The closer number is that 77.5% of Americans have antibodies which had to come from getting COVID at least once.
• Into the future, multiple infections will become more and more likely.  
• While some will only show mild symptoms, many will get sicker than from a common cold, and some will be at risk of something serious, even death.  
• According to a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs study, those who had two or more bouts with the virus had a higher hospitalization risk, and RATES OF DEATH DOUBLED.
• Then there are the long COVID cases.
• The best precaution is to take those new boosters at least annually.  Even better if you wear a mask when in a large group or enclosed area with people.
• 15 Craigside keeps going in and out of mask mandates, and we currently need to wear masks.

If you look at the data of what percent of a country get infected, Worldometer has a comparison:  one case for every so many people in the country.  What this shows more than anything else, I think, is that some countries don't accurately report their COVID cases.  The higher the number, the better, or fewer cases for the population.

#1      Western Sahara     62,606 (they only had 10 cases reported)

#2      China                      2,878

#3      Niger                      2,626

#10    Nicaragua                  367

#23    Syria                         335

#43    Pakistan                   145

#67    India                          31

#85    Thailand                   15

#113  Canada                       8

#124  Russia                        6

#144  Japan                         4

#149  Norway                      4

#163  USA                           3

 #182  Germany                   2

#184  Australia                    2

#194  Singapore                  2

#221  Nauru                        2

#225  South Korea              1

      Diamond Princess        0.19

Hurricane Gilma is now at 125 MPH, headed straight for Hawaii, but should weaken before making any landfall later next week.

However, on Sunday, Tropical Storm Hone is expected to largely pass just south of the Big Island.

In the western Pacific, Tropical Storm Shanshan will soon attain hurricane strength.  Typhoon Shanshan will make landfall over Wakayama Prefecture, with the eye possibly heading right over Nara next week on Tuesday.

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