Events

Today, for the first time, the United States had more deaths from Covid-19 in a single day (3,100) than the total number of deaths from the September 11th terror attacks (2,996). To understand how this happened, one need only look at Iowa: To visit Iowa right now is to travel back in time to the early days of the coronavirus pandemic in places such as New York City and Lombardy and Seattle, when the horror was fresh and the sirens never stopped. Sick people are filling up ICUs across the state....

Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying the latest Star Trek series immensely. But the third season's handling of its pretty stark historical implications bug me to death. Warning: spoilers possible ahead. Star Trek: Discovery's third season begins with the series protagonist, Cdr Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green), having jumped from the year 2259 to 3187, more than 900 years after the events of season 2. The eponymous starship shows up a year later. Now, even though Discovery has a unique propulsion...

So many things to read at lunchtime today: Philip Bump calls a video the soon-to-be-ex-president posted yesterday "the most petulant 46 minutes in American history." But whatever, because as David Graham points out, the STBXPOTUS is becoming irrelevant. As for voter fraud, and for accusing opponents of what you're actually the one doing, Georgia authorities have begun an investigation of a (Republican) Florida attorney who recommended to people that they illegally register to vote in Georgia ahead of...

The UK announced this morning that the National Health can start distributing a vaccine developed by Pfizer/BioNTech next week: Britain's medicines regulator, the MHRA, says the jab, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19 illness, is safe to be rolled out. Elderly people in care homes and care home staff have been placed top of the priority list, followed by over-80s and health and care staff. But because hospitals already have the facilities to store the vaccine at -70C, as required, the...

I thought to end the two-week run of Parker puppy photos with one of a game he invented. When he put the ball right between his paws like that, my job was to try grabbing it from him. He would try to pick it up. Since he had lots of teeth and I just had a hand, he would always win. Then, when he wanted me to toss it again, he'd roll it over to me with his nose. 18 April 2007 I miss him.

Winter began in the northern hemisphere this morning, which explains the gray cold enveloping Chicago. Nah, I kid: Chicago usually has a gray, cold envelope around it, just today it's official. And while I ponder, weak and weary, why the weather is so dreary, I've got these to read: Writing in the New York Times, Die Zeit columnist Jochen Bittner explains why Germans worry about the Republican Party's lies about the election. (Hint: Germany remembers 1918 differently than we do.) This year's Festival of...

There's a quiet dignity to dogs... 18 August 2007

Back when Evanston allowed dogs on restaurant and bar patios, Parker and I visited Tommy Nevin's Pub a lot. Sometimes there wouldn't be room on the patio per se, so I'd sit just inside. He, of course, had to stay just outside. Like this, mostly (1 July 2007):

We've got a day and a half of autumn left in Chicago. Here's what I'm reading on a lazy Sunday: Chicago's North Pond in Lincoln Park needs $7m in restoration work which it may not get next year. The Washington Post recaps the 20-day clown show of the president refusing to accept the results of the election. Will Wilkinson tries to sort out why so many people voted for him. Erika Christakis looks at how Covid-19 illuminated existing problems with the way we educate children. And finally, new research...

The Apollo Chorus has a concert tonight (register here; you can watch any time before Christmas), so I'm getting this out a little late. One problem with having a puppy, like Parker here at 9 months: action shots get more difficult (10 March 2007).