Sunday, May 24, 2020

buttercup (R. aestivalis): What I've been reading - 5/24/20 week - Coronavirus


What I've been reading this week through Sunday, 5/24/20


and also much from Twitter, and see, for example (esp. re-Tweets):






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Coronavirus Su 5/24/20



Corona and the pharmaceutical industry
:Of vaccines and patents
There is a market economy in the pharmaceutical industry. A health impact fund would be better for health worldwide.

CORONAVIRUS
Minnesota resorts reinvent hospitality to deal with COVID-19
Cragun's Resort on Gull Lake has implemented curbside check-in to eliminate any chance of crowds forming in the main lobby while guests arrive.
Photo Gallery - Minnesota resorts instituting safety measures for guests
By PAM LOUWAGIE , STAR TRIBUNE
May 28, 2020 - 8:57 PM

NISSWA, MINN. – There will be no throw pillows on the beds at Grand View Lodge resort this summer. No magazines on the coffee tables. No daily visits from housekeeping staff.

HONG KONG
Exclusive: ‘Strategic positivity’ needed to confront Beijing on world stage, says rights law expert Sharon Hom

Rachel Wong
by RACHEL WONG
21:00, 24 MAY 2020

Coronavirus resources
Grab bag of businesses will be part of state’s contact tracing network
By Matt Stout and Dasia Moore Globe Staff,Updated May 24, 2020

Competitive birding turned me into a monster
Isolation, hubris, binoculars: How Mass Audubon’s Bird-a-thon nearly broke our reporter
By Billy Baker Globe Staff,Updated May 24, 2020


Muddled mudik messages
As covid-19 spreads, Indonesia’s president has an unhappy Eid
Citizens pay the price for Joko Widodo’s flip-flops on a holiday travel ban
Asia
May 24th 2020
SINGAPORE

"IT SHOULD BE a time of bowing, shoulder-to-shoulder, in solemn prayer and of hugging, handshaking and feasting on treats. Indonesia, which has a population of 270m and more Muslims than any other country, has this weekend been celebrating Eid al-Fitr, known locally as Lebaran, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan, the fasting month. In the days leading up to Lebaran the country’s cities normally disgorge their residents, who cram onto buses, ferries and aeroplanes, laden with gifts and new clothes, on their way home for the festivities. But this year, as covid-19 has rampaged across the archipelago, the authorities cancelled flights and erected roadblocks. Lebaran was to be a subdued, solitary affair. At least, so the government hoped. ..."

Many young people are unhappy with life now: - It is very strange to talk to a screen
Youth feel more lonely, less satisfied and spend more than seven hours online daily during the coronation period: - They have to pay a high price, says researcher Petter Bae Brandtzæg.
https://www.aftenposten.no/kultur/i/9v9Rl5/mange-unge-er-misfornoeyde-med-livet-naa-det-er-veldig-rart-aa-snakke-til-en-skjerm?




- Scott MacLeod - Founder, President & Professor

- World University and School

- 415 480 4577

- CC World University and School - like CC Wikipedia with best STEM-centric CC OpenCourseWare - incorporated as a nonprofit university and school in California, and is a U.S. 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt educational organization. 






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Coronavirus Sa 5/23/20

One in five Boston public school children may be virtual dropouts
Technical, language challenges keep students from continuing school online
By Bianca Vázquez Toness Globe Staff,Updated May 23, 2020

Sundar Pichai Says Google Doesn't Plan to Go Entirely Remote
In an interview, the Google and Alphabet CEO discusses working from home, weathering antitrust probes, and how the company needs to do a better job on diversity.
https://www.wired.com/story/sundar-pichai-google-not-entirely-remote/

Game development:
"Parents could develop games for their children"
More technology, better graphics - is that the future of video games? No, says developer Pippin Barr. Everyone will design games, programming skills are not necessary.
Interview: Nils Erich
https://www.zeit.de/kultur/2020-05/spieleentwicklung-spieldesign-inklusion-gaming-zukunft

Uneasiness about deglobalization - going it alone is no more a strategy than denying the problems
Globalization has long been under pressure due to unfair trade practices, environmental pollution, exploitation and migration flows. Now the corona pandemic has brought it into an acute crisis. However, there is no way back to the principle of cooperation.
https://www.nzz.ch/meinung/unbehagen-an-der-deglobalisierung-alleingaenge-helfen-auch-nicht-ld.1557336






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Coronavirus F 5/22/20

What would it take to get you back to the movie theater?
With 200 theaters open now in the US and the industry’s future a question mark, two recent surveys measured how squeamish we’re feeling.
By Ty Burr Globe Staff, Updated May 22, 2020

The 20 best comedies of the 2000s, ranked
These are the ensembles, odd couples, cranks, and fictional vice presidents who made us laugh the most
By Matthew Gilbert Globe Staff

Archiv veröffentlicht einzigartige Aufnahmen des letzten Tasmanischen Tigers
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Robert Harrington @HeartBobH
"Men and women for others." Proud to be @hcalumni (Class '82) along with Dr Fauci. @holy_cross
https://twitter.com/HeartBobH/status/1263948011354255361?s=20
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Holy Cross @holy_cross
As part of tonight's live virtual celebration of the graduating class of 2020, Holy Cross alumnus and Director of the NIAID, Dr. Anthony Fauci '62, shared a special message to congratulate the graduates & welcome them to the alumni community. #HC2020

Sweden
Private doctors receive compensation for digital care - should reduce the risk of coronary infection
https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/privatlakare-far-ersattning-for-digital-vard-ska-minska-risken-for-coronasmitta/

Japan likely to completely lift coronavirus state of emergency on Monday
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/05/23/national/japan-lift-coronavirus-state-of-emergency-monday/
MATTHEW GILBERT
The 20 best comedies of the 2000s, ranked
These are the ensembles, odd couples, cranks, and fictional vice presidents who made us laugh the most
By Matthew Gilbert Globe Staff,Updated May 22, 2020

20. “The Good Place” The first year of this afterlife comedy barely indicated how richly philosophical, playful, and convention-bashing it would become. (NBC, 2016-20)

19. “Modern Family” By the end, as is too common with network sitcoms, I was so totally over it — but for years, this was the family comedy to beat, with tight scripts, refreshing characters, and a gifted cast. (ABC, 2009-20)

18. “Louie” There’s no undoing the singular excellence of this show, which skillfully resisted narrative conventions as it charted the small moments in the life of a comic — despite the real-life offenses of its director, writer, and star, Louis C.K. (FX, 2010-2015)

17. “How I Met Your Mother” It was just another ensemble comedy about friends in NYC that went on too long, but the cast clicked and the writing did, too, with callbacks and a bottomless well of “Barneyisms.” About the lessons and consolations of friendship, it was ex — wait for it — cellent. (CBS, 2005-14)
Aziz Ansari in "Master of None."
Aziz Ansari in "Master of None." Netflix

16. “Master of None” Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang created this charming portrait of a struggling Indian-American actor looking for love and good food in NYC, and it’s rich in character depth and exhilarating narrative experimentation. (Netflix, 2015-present)

15. “Arrested Development” Alas, I can’t think of this series without flinching about the revival on Netflix. But first there were three seasons of a brilliantly flip comedy about an ethically demented family, featuring sustained in-jokes, language play, and well-cast side characters. (Fox, 2003-06 and Netflix, 2013-19)

14. “Broad City” The endearing Abbi and Illana buoyed TV’s history of female duos — Mary and Rhoda, Lucy and Ethel, Laverne and Shirley — as they lived twisted, fringe, adventurous, and bawdy lives in NYC. (Comedy Central, 2014-19)
Lisa Kudrow in "The Comeback."
Lisa Kudrow in "The Comeback." John P. Johnson/HBO

13. “The Comeback” This faux reality show about Lisa Kudrow’s controlling has-been actress flings darts at pop culture’s youth fetish, the marginalizing of older women in Hollywood, celebrity egos, and the cynicism of TV executives — and every throw is a bull’s-eye. (HBO, 2005 and 2014)

12. “Man Seeking Women” I’m generally alone in thinking this show — an homage to the imagination — is one of the more brilliant TV takes on being single in NYC, as our hero walks in and out of amazingly designed metaphors. Not much on TV goes this far out on a limb and stays there. (FXX, 2015-17)

11. Parks and Recreation” Amy Poehler and her flawless ensemble gave us “West Wing”-like political optimism — and the beautifully built-out world of Pawnee — with a welcome touch of crazy. (NBC, 2009-2015)
Ben Sinclair in "High Maintenance."
Ben Sinclair in "High Maintenance."Craig Blankenhorn

10. “High Maintenance” If you think “High Maintenance” is just “the pot comedy,” then you probably haven’t seen it. It’s a collection of interlocking short stories about the people of New York, the multitudes that once inspired Walt Whitman, as they live ordinary extraordinary lives behind locked doors. The chapters are linked only because they share the same pot dealer, played by co-creator Ben Sinclair, who has become less opaque with each season. Each story has depth and, sometimes, a little O. Henry-like twist at the end. (HBO, 2016-present)

9. “Better Things” Don’t ask me what it’s about! It’s about everything, or at least everything in the life of Pamela Adlon’s Sam Fox, the single mother of three daughters and the caretaker of her dotty mother. It’s about the small moments in their lives that wind up loaded with meaning. It’s about being a woman in a world and an industry (Sam is an actress) where men can’t help but talk at her. It’s about subtle filmmaking, resisting TV’s familiar storytelling tropes, and celebrating family in all its bittersweet, tumbledown glory. (FX, 2015-present)

8. “Catastrophe” As with many great comedies, the story line is nothing special: A lovably goofy American played by Rob Delaney has a fling in London with a feisty Irish woman played by Sharon Horgan, an unexpected baby ensues, and they try to raise the baby together despite, at first, being near-strangers. But the cast — including Carrie Fisher— elevates it all, and the writing, by Delaney and Horgan, is both clever and deeply human. Delaney and Horgan were one of TV comedy’s most believable couples as they faced the challenges of monogamy, sobriety, culture clash, sex, and romance. (Amazon, 2015-19)
Catherine O'Hara as Moira in "Schitt's Creek."
Catherine O'Hara as Moira in "Schitt's Creek." Associated Press

7. “Schitt’s Creek” There’s nothing intellectually nourishing about this update of “Green Acres,” no big statement or innovation. It’s just a mess of sweetness and goofy comic genius. The magic is in the cast’s ensemble warmth and the character development, which saw the Rose family gradually lose their emotional inhibitions and shed their pretentions. The writers wisely pushed son David and daughter Alexis into the arms of exceedingly nice people, to bring out their strengths, and they wrote dazzling blather for Catherine O’Hara, whose Moira is one of TV’s funniest creations. (Pop, 2015-2020)

6. “Fleabag” I enjoyed season one of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s painful, wry look at indirectly expressed grief and guilt. But I adored the second season, six episodes of perfection about an emotionally lost woman falling in love with a priest. With super-dry wit and fourth-wall-breaking winks, Waller-Bridge showed us the difficulty some have of feeling worthy of love. The season won a bunch of Emmys, and it deserved each one. (Amazon, 2016-19)

5. “The Office” It’s hard to judge this show anymore, in some ways. It has become part of the fabric of TV culture, its cast members (many from the Boston area) now stars and its episodes now in constant syndication and streaming replay. But, despite being softer and mushier than Ricky Gervais’s original “The Office,” or perhaps because of those qualities, “The Office” is a treasure of characterization and dry humor. It captures both the absurdities of the workplace, as well as the eccentric and repetitive people we’re sometimes thrown together with when we’re there. (NBC, 2005-13)
Larry David in "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
Larry David in "Curb Your Enthusiasm." John P. Johnson/HBO

4. “Curb Your Enthusiasm” This is the show that manages to make the selfish, petty characters on “Seinfeld” look almost cozy. Larry David created a cringe-filled vehicle in which to fully unleash his misanthropy and his absurdly stubborn opinions. His hell is other people, and he openly expresses the annoyance and self-righteousness that most of us suppress. Some of the humor, too, is rooted in watching his East Coast sensibility in a world of LA air-kisses and positive thinking. Semi-improvised, “Curb” spawned a wave of shows with actors playing exaggerated versions of themselves. (HBO, 2000-present)

3. “Scrubs” Alas, Bill Lawrence’s series circled the drain for a year or two before it left. But for most of its life, “Scrubs” was remarkable, a show that took on the legacy of “M*A*S*H” — a comedy that could be dramatic in a medical setting among doctors and nurses — and didn’t wind up looking stupid. The series was a critical force in the advance of single-camera comedies, as it went big with surrealistic flashes, making the characters’ fears and desires entertainingly literal for a moment or two. (ABC & NBC, 2001-2010)

2. “Veep” I never thought that, among its many virtues, “Veep” would also turn out to be prescient. But this brilliant take on political theater, created by Scottish writer Armando Iannucci with the clarity and comic distance of an outsider, managed to find both broad and subtle laughs in malignant self-interest, media self-love, and congressional paralysis. It also turned cursing into an art. The cast was all aces, not least of all Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who finds the funny in narcissism, and Timothy Simons, whose failure to be nominated for his turn as Jonah Ryan is one of many Emmy sins. (HBO, 2012-2019)
Tracy Morgan and Tina Fey in "30 Rock."
Tracy Morgan and Tina Fey in "30 Rock."Eric Liebowitz/NBC

1. “30 Rock” From start to finish, this comedy was a happy tap dance of jabs at politics, pop culture, and the media — including its own network, NBC. It was far from a smash hit, even after three best-comedy Emmys, but creator Tina Fey and the writers never compromised for mainstream appeal. A TV series about a TV series in the family tree of “The Larry Sanders Show,” it could be a biting satire of America as well as an affectionate ensemble comedy. It has not become the kind of comfort food in reruns that “The Office” and “Friends” have, but that’s as it should be. The show is too relentless and sharp for that. The Urban Dictionary defines “30 Rock” as making you “laugh so hard that a little pee comes out,” and I won’t argue with that. (NBC, 2006-13)



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- Scott MacLeod - Founder, President & Professor
- World University and School
http://worlduniversityandschool.org 
- 415 480 4577
http://scottmacleod.com 
- CC World University and School - like CC Wikipedia with best STEM-centric CC OpenCourseWare - incorporated as a nonprofit university and school in California, and is a U.S. 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt educational organization. 



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Coronavirus W 5/20/20


End of the crisis | Jacques Dufresne's point of view
[Home] [Videos]
The duty
May 21, 2020
Videos
The philosopher reflects on our relationship with people, objects, animals and nature.

Riya, a Saudi woman almost like the others
Saudi Arabia is transforming at great speed. Among the most visible changes, the role of women in society. Meet Riya, a resolutely modern young woman whose life has been turned upside down
https://www.letemps.ch/monde/riya-une-saoudienne-presque-autres



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Coronavirus W 5/20/20

CO2-Ausstoß geht weltweit zurück – aber nur wenig. Warum?
Stand: 08:11 Uhr | Lesedauer: 5 Minuten
Norbert Lossau
Von Norbert Lossau
https://www.welt.de/wissenschaft/plus208093405/Klimawandel-und-Lockdown-CO2-Ausstoss-geht-weltweit-zurueck-aber-nur-wenig-Warum.html

Flying is in the stars
International aviation is on the ground. But soon it will take off again. How does flying change? A look at the current situation worldwide.
https://taz.de/Luftfahrt-nach-Corona/!5685925/

Religiöse Zeremonien sind bald ohne Besucherlimit erlaubt – ausserhalb von Kirchen gilt aber weiterhin die Fünf-Personen-Regel
Der Bundesrat weicht von seinem bisherigen Plan ab und erlaubt den Kirchen, schon Ende Mai wieder Gottesdienste durchzuführen. Beim Schutzkonzept bleibt jedoch eine wichtige Frage offen.
https://www.nzz.ch/schweiz/kirchen-gottesdienste-werden-wieder-erlaubt-ohne-besucherlimit-ld.1557519

On a matter of faith, a different higher power helped guide Baker: the courts
Governor Baker's decision this week to allow houses of worship to immediately welcome congregants back was rooted not in faith. Rather, aides say, it was a calculation of two threats: the virus and a lawsuit.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/05/20/nation/matter-faith-different-higher-power-helped-guide-baker-courts/

Sweden
Geriatrics professor: This is active euthanasia
https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/geriatrikprofessor-det-har-ar-aktiv-dodshjalp/
"Geriatrics professor Yngve Gustafson believes that many elderly people are not treated for covid-19, but instead receive palliative medicine directly.
- To routinely give older people with lung infection respiratory drugs, is active euthanasia, not to say a ..."


Stanford study suggests coronavirus might not be as deadly as flu


How to ensure that tourists do not bring the coronavirus? The EU is divided
EU tourism ministers appeared divided over the severity of controls and measures to be imposed on travelers to let them enjoy the summer season.
https://plus.lesoir.be/302117/article/2020-05-20/comment-assurer-que-les-touristes-namenent-pas-le-coronavirus-lue-est-divisee


FEMINISM:
WE, THE CRISIS BEES
An essay by Carla Baum
Feminism as a history of progress? The joke shows the Corona crisis. The embossments are too deep, the structures too toxic. Time to question yourself
https://www.zeit.de/campus/2020-05/feminismus-rollenbilder-maenner-frauen-corona-krise


Michael Taylor arrested, faces extradition to Japan on charges of orchestrating escape of former Nissan CEO
By Shelley Murphy Globe Staff,Updated May 20, 2020

Six big decisions colleges are wrestling with as they weigh whether to bring back students this fall
By Jaclyn Reiss Globe Staff,Updated May 20, 2020

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- Scott MacLeod - Founder, President & Professor
- World University and School
http://worlduniversityandschool.org 
- 415 480 4577
http://scottmacleod.com 
- CC World University and School - like CC Wikipedia with best STEM-centric CC OpenCourseWare - incorporated as a nonprofit university and school in California, and is a U.S. 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt educational organization. 




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Coronavirus Tuesday 5/19/20
Why Merkel agrees to the monetary gifts for Italy and Co.
As of May 19, 2020 | Reading time: 5 minutes
By Christoph B. Schiltz, Brussels
https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/plus208086059/EU-Hilfspaket-500-Milliarden-Euro-gegen-Corona-Bonds.html




Great mask photo
JOAN VENNOCHI
Baker moves slowly to reopen the state — and swiftly to remove nursing homes’ coronavirus liability
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/05/18/opinion/baker-moves-slowly-reopen-state-swiftly-remove-nursing-homes-coronavirus-liability/






Boston College intends to hold classes on campus this fall
The school said its health services department has already developed testing and isolation procedures in response to the COVID-19 virus and officials plan to continue to refine plans and policies as the fall draws near, particularly around contact tracing and treatment.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/05/19/metro/bc-intends-hold-classes-campus/


A Country is Crashing: USA
Wirtschaftskrise in den USA:
Ein Land stürzt ab
Unsere USA-Korrespondentin Heike Buchter traf in den vergangenen Jahren Milchbauern, die um ihre Höfe fürchteten, Öl-Fracker, die einen Boom erlebten, Gründer, die auf einen Neustart hofften. Jetzt erzählen sie von der Wucht einer beispiellosen Wirtschaftskrise.


Ages on, Corona here - how an obedient Swedish pensioner throws his shop
Fingers crossed is not for Torsten Eriksson, a very old pensioner from Helsingborg, Sweden. He doesn't like the fact that, according to the health authority, he should be sitting at home because of the corona virus. That's why he doesn't do it.
https://www.nzz.ch/panorama/wie-ein-ungehorsamer-schwedischer-rentner-seinen-laden-schmeisst-ld.1555445


Why Slovenia is the first EU country to declare the pandemic over
The statement from last week was completely unexpected for most residents of the small state. Health policy reasons were not in the foreground in the government decision.
https://www.nzz.ch/international/corona-krise-slowenien-erklaert-die-pandemie-fuer-beendet-ld.1557082


75 Jahre Berliner Zeitung:
Hunger nach Zeitung
Am Anfang stand die Suche nach verlässlichen Fakten als Grundbedarf für das Leben. Das gilt heute wie eh und je. Ein Streifzug durch das Auf und Ab der Zeitungsgeschichte.
https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/75-jahre/hunger-nach-zeitung-li.83836


CORONAVIRUS
Crowds show up at Minnesota DVS offices to take driving tests, renew licenses
Fourteen DVS exam stations reopened Tuesday, including this one in Arden Hills where during the mid-morning an estimated 200 people waited outside in Fourteen DVS exam stations reopened Tuesday, including this one in Arden Hills where during the mid-morning an estimated 200 people waited outside in a line that stretched around the entire block to get into the building.
— David Joles, Star Tribune
https://m.startribune.com/crowds-show-up-at-minnesota-offices-for-driving-tests-licenses/570598092/




-- 
- Scott MacLeod - Founder, President & Professor

- World University and School

- 415 480 4577

- CC World University and School - like CC Wikipedia with best STEM-centric CC OpenCourseWare - incorporated as a nonprofit university and school in California, and is a U.S. 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt educational organization. 





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Coronavirus M 5/18/20

DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE


Sweden
The infection forces psychiatry to switch - here the patients receive covid-19 care
https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/smittan-tvingar-psykiatrin-att-stalla-om-har-far-patienterna-vard-for-covid-19/


CONDUCTED THE INTERVIEW
ANDREAS FANIZADEH
Goering-Eckardt on structural change: "We are at a crossroads"
Germany needs an ecological restart, says Green Group leader Katrin Göring-Eckardt. The self-employed would need further support.
https://taz.de/Goering-Eckardt-ueber-Strukturwandel/!5682431/


«Wenn die Landwirtschaft so intensiv weiterproduziert, ist die Versorgungssicherheit gefährdet»
Schweizer Bauern sollen bald mehr ¨Öko-Wiesen säen und weniger Lebensmittel produzieren. So will es die neue Agrarpolitik des Bundes. Doch ergibt dies auch nach Corona noch Sinn? Ein Gespräch mit Landwirtschaftsdirektor Christian Hofer.
https://www.nzz.ch/schweiz/corona-die-landwirtschaft-wird-gestaerkt-aus-der-krise-gehen-ld.1556831


Today, a new kind of everyday life started for them
great students: "It's totally military-like"
The top students met at a changed school on Monday: "It's totally military-like"
Berlingske has visited two schools in Copenhagen on a historic day, when the oldest students met at a changed school after two months at home. The rejoicing was great, but it was missed for the normal school before the corona as well. Students need to prepare for some of the new rules to become a permanent part of school forever, a school principal says.
https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/de-store-elever-modte-ind-til-en-forandret-skole-mandag-det-er-helt


Spitzenbeamtin Andrea Mayer wird Kulturstaatssekretärin der Grünen
Die gebürtige Niederösterreicherin folgt der zurückgetretenen Ulrike Lunacek nach. Am Dienstag wird Mayer präsentiert
https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000117568806/spitzenbeamtin-andrea-mayer-wird-kulturstaatssekretaerinder-gruenen


- Scott MacLeod - Founder, President & Professor

- World University and School

- 415 480 4577


- CC World University and School - like CC Wikipedia with best STEM-centric CC OpenCourseWare - incorporated as a nonprofit university and school in California, and is a U.S. 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt educational organization. 





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buttercup (R. aquatilis): What I've been reading - 6/14/20 week - Coronavirus + BlackLivesMatter



buttercup (R. alismifolius): What I've been reading - 5/31/20 week - Coronavirus



buttercup (R. acris): What I've been reading - 5/17/20 week - Coronavirus


https://scott-macleod.blogspot.com/2020/06/buttercup-r-acraeus-what-ive-been.html

buttercup (R. aconitifolius): What I've been reading - 5/3/20 week - Coronavirus













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re

SUNDAY, JUNE 07, 2020


What I've been watching

Over the past week, I have watched the six-part HBO miniseries The Plot Against America, which came out in March. It is based on the 2004 Philip Roth novel of the same title and tells an alternative history in which FDR is defeated in 1940 by the fascist-sympathizing Charles Lindbergh through the eyes of a Jewish family living in Newark, NJ. Compelling story, well acted. It is the best piece of television I have seen in years.

http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2020/06/what-ive-been-watching.html





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