Altamonte Springs – Analog Artist Digital World

The Mu COVID-19 variant (B.1.621) has been detected in Altamonte Springs, Florida sewage. The virus is shed it in stool or urine. Tests are done on the waste water as a predictor for possible transmissions in a community.

The variant has also been found in 49 other states. As of Oct. 29, 2021 the Mu variant accounts for less than 1 percent of all COVID-19 infections in the U.S., according to the GISAID Initiative, which is an organization that promotes the rapid sharing of data from all influenza viruses and COVID-19. It is still the dominant strain of COVID-19 in Colombia, where it was originally found.

People did not consider Delta to be much of a concern when it came to the United States from India back in June. When a virus takes a foothold it grows at an exponential rate. By the time everyone realized it is a problem it is already too late.

Mu has mutations already in Delta ( B. 1.617. 2) but it also has mutations from Alpha (B.1.1.7), which was also known to be highly transmissible. A lab study pre-print suggests, that Mu is the most immune evasive virus we’ve seen in the pandemic. It could be able to evade the immunity provided by vaccines and prior infections. It has been listed as a a “variant of interest” by the World Health Organization since August 30, 2021.

“Mu looks potentially good at immune evasion,” Danny Altmann, PhD, an immunologist at Imperial College London, told The Telegraph. “For my taste, it’s a stark reminder that this isn’t by any means over. On a planet of 4.4 million-plus new infections per week, there are new variants popping up all the time, and little reason to feel complacent.”

Sandra Lacey wrote a musical called “God Still Dreams of Eden.” I saw it performed several years ago in the black box theater inside the Orlando Shakes. The musical was light hearted fun. “For 20 years Minerva Morgan had let her long-held secret come between her and the only man she ever loved. The appearance of a run-away bride added a dangerous complication…” Sandra told me that bringing the story to the stage lead to further development of the characters. The actors breathed new life into the characters she had imagined. To further expand the story, she developed it into a novel.

On January 3rd, Sandra signed copies of her book at Longs Christian Book and Outlet, 1140 East Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs FL. I checked with Roger Long, the bookstore owner before I started to sketch. Sandra hadn’t arrived yet, but a table was set up where she could sign books. She set up a little stand next to the table where she placed chocolate chip cookies. Anyone who stopped by would get a quick synopsis about the book. Sandra gathered e-mail addresses and signed books which were 30% off on that day only.

Most patrons in the store were looking for Christian music. There was a station with head phones which allowed people to search for particular tunes. Staff often had to help out people who didn’t know the name of the artist or the song title. One lady was in the store the entire time I sketched. She wasn’t staff, and she never seemed to find what she was looking for. She spoke to a couple for a while and then insisted on praying with them. I’m convinced that if I returned today, she would still be wandering the isles.

Sandra told me that “God Still Dreams of Eden” will be returning to the stage in about a year. Don Hopkinson is the musical director and the plan is to bring the musical back to the Shakes or the Abbey. I’m curious to see how the story has been further fleshed out.