Balloon Juice | Anne Laurie, Author at Balloon Juice

Anne Laurie has been a Balloon Juice writer since 2009.

Sunday Morning Garden Chat: An Update from Satby

by Anne Laurie| May 9, 20215:45 am| 54 Comments

From master gardener, rescue angel, and beloved commentor Satby, April 20:

Because tomorrow we’re heading into two days of hard freezes overnight I went out at the tail end of today’s rain to take a few memorial pictures of the flowers now blooming. I’m going to cover what I can and cut some bouquets of what I can’t.

Front hugelkultur bed with spring bulbs and hydrangea

Soon to be frozen crabapple in bloom

Maroon tulips that have come back for 5 years — they were here when I moved in.

One of the double tulips that were supposed to be bicolor.

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Sunday Morning Garden Chat: An Update from SatbyPost + Comments (54)

COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates: Saturday / Sunday, May 8-9

by Anne Laurie| May 9, 20214:38 am| 18 Comments

This post is in: COVID-19 Coronavirus, Foreign Affairs

For the first time in 14 months, when I think to myself, “dang, this pollen is bad,” it’s not followed by “or do I have COVID??” Vaccinated life is good.

— Kimberly Atkins (@KimberlyEAtkins) May 5, 2021

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COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates: Saturday / Sunday, May 8-9Post + Comments (18)

57.7% of all American adults have received at least one vaccine shot; 43.2% are now fully vaccinated.

83.5% of Americans age 65 or older have received at least one shot; 71.0% are now fully vaccinated. pic.twitter.com/7fiAdsyBp4

— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) May 9, 2021

The US administered almost 2.6 million vaccine shots today, bringing the total to 257 million, or 77.5 doses per 100 people. The 7-day moving average declined to 1.98 million shots per day, its first time below 2 million since March 2. pic.twitter.com/UA94cTYpvn

— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) May 9, 2021

From South Carolina to Washington, states have asked the federal government this week to withhold staggering amounts of COVID-19 vaccine amid plummeting demand for the shots, contributing to a growing U.S. stockpile of doses. https://t.co/Cj0ONHUXjD

— The Associated Press (@AP) May 8, 2021

The US had +35,755 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the total a bit higher above 33.4 million. The 7-day moving average declined to below 43,000 new cases per day, its lowest level since September 28. pic.twitter.com/qO8SCOJKLt

— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) May 9, 2021

The US reported +648 new coronavirus deaths today, bringing the total to 595,588. The 7-day moving average declined to 676 deaths per day. pic.twitter.com/wfF4uTp64h

— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) May 9, 2021

Opinion: "As Americans resume many aspects of pre-pandemic life, there is a sense that the worst is behind us. I share this optimism, but I also worry about what could be in store for us after a relatively calm summer." https://t.co/d8Ik7TouFQ

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) May 6, 2021

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European Union leaders cranked up their criticism of the U.S. support for waiving patents on COVID-19 vaccines and said Washington should lift vaccine export restrictions if it wants to have a global impact on the pandemic. https://t.co/Z7fT9mbYGI

— AP Europe (@AP_Europe) May 8, 2021

While people in rich nations debate which coronavirus vaccine is best, some poor nations have still seen no vaccines at all, not even for key health care workers. https://t.co/dngPtG914B

— AP Africa (@AP_Africa) May 9, 2021

China administered total of 317.59 mln doses of COVID-19 vaccines as of May 8 https://t.co/6omNr0ZGlk pic.twitter.com/p2tWmd0wnW

— Reuters (@Reuters) May 9, 2021

India’s COVID-19 cases rise by over 400,000 despite state lockdowns https://t.co/7RtOcUyT3H pic.twitter.com/Hdv8pcfADL

— Reuters (@Reuters) May 9, 2021

Rural hospitals in India struggle to cope as Covid spreads https://t.co/8z0L9w7eS7

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 7, 2021

Two southern states in India became the latest to declare lockdowns, as coronavirus cases surge across the country and pressure mounts on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to implement a nationwide shutdown. https://t.co/jOVS23h4fK

— The Associated Press (@AP) May 8, 2021

India's Covid crisis delivers a blow to brand Modi https://t.co/UpApRbY89u

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 8, 2021

Pakistan enters partial lockdown as Eid nears https://t.co/TJSNUNYGtz

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 8, 2021

Second surge of Covid-19 cases in the Philippines putting renewed pressure on healthcare systemhttps://t.co/CDdWFVXS1E pic.twitter.com/FU3ok6lTNC

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 8, 2021

Australia's most populous state extends COVID restrictions in hunt for outbreak source https://t.co/vylmw4nVou pic.twitter.com/9E9F4kAHGO

— Reuters (@Reuters) May 9, 2021

The EU sealed a deal Sayurday for up to 1.8 billion extra Pfizer-BioNTech doses https://t.co/dh0sz8kinW via @medical_xpress

— delthia ricks 🔬 (@DelthiaRicks) May 8, 2021

Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 12,656 – RKI https://t.co/XxTxVFiljk pic.twitter.com/ijcIsZSq7K

— Reuters (@Reuters) May 9, 2021

Full "green list" of countries revealed for quarantine-free travel into Englandhttps://t.co/gkbTS45h6X pic.twitter.com/TJFtVAS2tM

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) May 7, 2021

With widely spaced sun loungers and regular disinfections, Greece reopened its beaches as the popular Mediterranean holiday destination geared up for fresh travelers pic.twitter.com/dP142u1DKf

— Reuters (@Reuters) May 9, 2021

The misinformation bubble threatening Brazil's indigenous people https://t.co/6PgPSglhI5

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 8, 2021

… Many mobile phone operators in Brazil include free use of Facebook and Facebook-owned Instagram and WhatsApp in their payment plans, whereas use of other networks and websites incurs a cost.

WhatsApp – a common source of community and family news – presents a particular problem, experts say.

Information on chat apps tends to come from people closer to us, who we instinctively trust – but data packages discourage people, particularly the cash-strapped, from double-checking health information.

Indigenous journalist Anapuaka Tupinamba says WhatsApp enabled “a leap” for indigenous people in the areas of politics and education, but calls technology “a double-edged sword”.

“What we have today is a ‘fake’ internet. When you see fake news, you can’t check it,” Anapuaka says. “So it feels like I’m on the internet, but not really. I’m almost on the intranet of a large company.”…

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Three studies show that #COVID19 mRNA Vaccines Appear Effective Against Multiple #coronavirus Variants: the #B117, #B1351 & #P1 variantshttps://t.co/ucD7xK2zgI

— MicrobesInfect (@MicrobesInfect) May 8, 2021

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Mask and distancing restrictions may be relaxing across much of the country, but it’s been another tough semester on many college campuses, where COVID-19 spikes have meant even tougher measures. https://t.co/ItmRJBwQ6h

— The Associated Press (@AP) May 8, 2021

I wrote about why vaccine hesitancy in communities of color is NOT the primary factor behind lower COVID-19 vaccination rates.

Access to vaccines remains an issue, as do structure barriers, like not having paid time off, childcare or transportation https://t.co/wms4ZmHRUc

— Erin Schumaker (@erinlschumaker) May 8, 2021

There was a piece on the local tv news tonight about a vaccine clinic in the western suburbs beyond Boston, one set up specifically for 16- and 17-year-olds. The kids had to bring their parents (or a signed permission slip), and when it turned out there’d be extra shots, some of their parents were vaxx’d as well. These were adults who’d been *meaning* to make appointments, work something out to fit their schedules, but they were more than happy to take advantage. (Also, turns out that a nice chunk of Masschusetts ‘older teens’ have already been vaccinated, because the state qualified fast-food workers as ‘frontline personnel’ early in the process, and the kids working the drive-thrus did not hesitate!)

the next group to target is not the over-discussed vaccine-hesitant but the under-discussed “I’m not at risk and I’ll just wait until I don’t have to go out of my way in the slightest to get one” group. time to set up kiosks on sidewalks and give out gift cards to passers by https://t.co/OjtxMHzn1g

— kilgore trout, toilet sword ninja (@KT_So_It_Goes) May 6, 2021

cut the meat off the bone where it’s easiest, then deal with the PR hell of unwinding tens of millions of self-appointed medical experts schooled on a steady diet of digital malpractice

— kilgore trout, toilet sword ninja (@KT_So_It_Goes) May 6, 2021

it is so silly to me to take up all the bandwidth with discussions on how to convince MAGAmommy2A4EVR who spends her days drinking essential oils and whale piss to get a shot when there’s a huge swath of people who are totally cool with it but just hate the added complexity https://t.co/7uSMfNpRa8

— kilgore trout, toilet sword ninja (@KT_So_It_Goes) May 6, 2021

Even after he caught Covid, televangelist John Hagee told his congregation they didn't need the vaccine because their faith in Jesus would protect them. Then he secretly got the vaccine. https://t.co/n4dVNCDcrl

— The Daily Edge (@TheDailyEdge) May 8, 2021

Saturday Night Open Thread: Cruel Chronos

by Anne Laurie| May 8, 20218:57 pm| 36 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Popular Culture

do yourself a favor on this lovely saturday morning and don't start thinking about what the median age of a butthole surfers fan has to be, because if you do, this seems (a little) less obviously absurd. https://t.co/qllwd2bJWf

— GOLIKEHELLMACHINE (@golikehellmachi) May 8, 2021

Also, that typo for ‘message’ in the embedded tweet is golden. I think you have to pay more than Cameo prices for a personal BS massage…

to be clear, the only reason i find it any amount of absurd is because i find the idea of cameo kind of absurd, but that's just a matter of personal preference.

— GOLIKEHELLMACHINE (@golikehellmachi) May 8, 2021

To date myself… I never completely forgave my mother, during her stint as a low-level NYC mayoral campaign worker in 1969, when she turned down a Jimmy Breslin autograph to fangirl at Norman Mailer. She came home starry-eyed, chirping ‘I’ll never wash this hand [Mailer shook] again!’, and then told me that it was undignified to adulate a ‘mere’ newspaper columnist. (I wouldn’t find out for years that Gloria Steinem was one of the organizers behind that campaign, either.)

Saturday Night Open Thread: Cruel ChronosPost + Comments (36)

Saturday Night Diversions Open Thread: VAX Live (Pre-Recorded)

by Anne Laurie| May 8, 202111:12 am| 92 Comments

This post is in: COVID-19 Coronavirus, Open Threads, Popular Culture

From Dave Grohl's exuberant return to a concert stage to a wardrobe mixup between Ben Affleck and Jimmy Kimmel, here's some of what to expect from Saturday's "Vax Live" fundraising concert. The show, hosted by Selena Gomez, seeks global vaccine equity.https://t.co/L4DIEpx289

— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) May 8, 2021

Streaming on YouTube at 8pm EDT, or on ABC, CBS, Fox, Hulu...

… The pre-taped event brought together celebrities and political leaders at “Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World,” which was recorded May 2. ABC, ABC News Live, CBS, YouTube and iHeartMedia radio stations will broadcast the concert staged at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Selena Gomez hosted the show, which was attended by several thousand fully-vaccinated concertgoers who cheered on performances by Eddie Vedder, Foo Fighters, J Balvin, H.E.R. and Lopez, who enjoyed a duet with her mom.

Ben Affleck, Chrissy Teigen, Jimmy Kimmel, Sean Penn and David Letterman served as special guest speakers.

Global Citizen said $53.8 million in philanthropic and corporate commitments have already helped procure nearly 10.3 million doses, exceeding the goal for the Vax Live campaign…

All of the performers showed enormous enthusiasm with returning to a live stage, especially Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl who said, “This is a (explicit) concert” on multiple occasions.

“In the last year, I’ve been having this dream that’s happening now,” Grohl said. His band rocked out with AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson during a performance of the rock anthem “Back In Black.”

Eddie Vedder said the concert was the first “taste of the life we’ve all been missing” for more than a year…

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden appeared in a video message in hopes of encouraging the masses to get vaccinated. Both spoke as part of the “We Can Do This” initiative to increase confidence in COVID-19 vaccines.

The president said they are working with leaders around the world to share more vaccines and boost production to help supply every country.

“If we get this done, we won’t have to miss another moment,” he said…

After Prince Harry’s plea, Amitabh Bachchan made a strong one of his own. The actor-producer spoke from India, where cases continue to increase, and asked all global citizens to rise and speak to “your governments, your pharmaceutical companies.”

Bachchan said he wants people to ask those entities to donate, give and extend a helping hand to the public that is in need…

The event featured messages from political leaders including European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Norway Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, French president Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.

Pope Francis called for a “spirit of justice” to ensure universal access to vaccines and a temporary suspension of intellectual property rights…

Saturday Night Diversions Open Thread: VAX Live (Pre-Recorded)Post + Comments (92)

Saturday Morning Open Thread: (White) Housekeeping

by Anne Laurie| May 8, 20217:22 am| 170 Comments

This post is in: Biden Administration in Action, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat

We’re still digging our way out of a very deep hole. No one should underestimate how tough a battle this is. We still have a job to do here in Washington. The American people are counting on us. So, let’s get it done.

— President Biden (@POTUS) May 7, 2021

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Saturday Morning Open Thread: (White) HousekeepingPost + Comments (170)

COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates: Friday / Saturday, May 7-8

by Anne Laurie| May 8, 20216:11 am| 75 Comments

This post is in: COVID-19 Coronavirus, Foreign Affairs

(Clay Jones via GoComics.com)
.

Now the questions are about Fauci and the Wuhan Lab pic.twitter.com/i9iiMuvAoj

— Acyn (@Acyn) May 7, 2021

Because it’s all over social media, here’s today’s just asking questions nontroversy, TL;DR edition: A once-respected science writer who fell down the Bell Curve rabbit hole just did a long (badly argued, IMO) ‘the Kung Flu Plague *could* have been a Chinese bioweapon lab leak, and so why isn’t Fauci pushing for an immediate investigation into how the ChiComs did this to us?’ post on Medium — which is a blog platform, not a news site. (While it’s not an impossible theory, it’s not the most plausible one, and also: This is not the time for that discussion.) A bunch of the Wingnut Wurlitzer’s bad-faith actors buzzed on his theory like flies on a fresh dungpile, so we can look forward to more of this ‘so why hasn’t Fauci been fired yet?’ bullsh*t until the next anti-science theory arises…

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COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates: Friday / Saturday, May 7-8Post + Comments (75)

This is the cuckoo conspiracy theory Newsmax's Emerald Robinson is referencing in her very normal and regular question at the White House press briefing today. https://t.co/0FES4zSWcy pic.twitter.com/wtFGW3l6F6

— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) May 7, 2021

What kind of a moron would fund research into something as silly as corona viruses? https://t.co/uxT1zsQU2x

— Alex Hazanov. (@alexhazanov) May 8, 2021

Is there a fine line between Covid is a hoax & the virus was spread by China on purpose? Because it seems the same group of people think it’s both. Pick a lane at least. #Wuhan

— Please, No Europa League 🌊🗽⚖️ (@JakeSerafini) May 8, 2021

57.4% of all American adults have received at least one vaccine shot; 42.6% are now fully vaccinated.

83.3% of Americans age 65 or older have received at least one shot 70.6% are now fully vaccinated. pic.twitter.com/ECObN0fCLy

— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) May 8, 2021

The US had +49,491 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the total to over 33.4 million. The 7-day moving average declined to below 45,000 new cases per day, its lowest level since October 4. pic.twitter.com/i4zKQi23dd

— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) May 8, 2021

Airports are slowly getting more crowded as more Americans take airline flights. The Transportation Security Administration said that about 1.64 million people were screened at U.S. airports Thursday. That's the busiest day for TSA since March 2020. https://t.co/Wfq3nIY0Kj

— The Associated Press (@AP) May 7, 2021

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"Incidence" is a measure of new infections.
Good news in 3 countries on the #COVID19 front:
Incidence and vaccine coverage
•US (13/100K) 1st dose 45%| 2nd 33%
•UK (2/100K) 1st dose 52%| 2nd 24%
•Israel (0.7/100K) 1st dose 58%| 2nd 54% pic.twitter.com/PIF1IbZEbF

— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) May 8, 2021

China administered total of 308.23 mln doses of COVID-19 vaccines as of May 7 https://t.co/2H8gmCHIcX pic.twitter.com/OqTfUKCYr6

— Reuters (@Reuters) May 8, 2021

Countries wrestling with new coronavirus surges are trying to ensure they aren’t hit by an India-style disaster. More world cases have been reported in the past two weeks than in the entire first six months of the pandemic, the WHO director general said. https://t.co/8mZdXWCxOM

— The Associated Press (@AP) May 7, 2021

As India's coronavirus catastrophe worsens, new waves of infections are fast engulfing a growing number of nations across South and Southeast Asia — with some grappling with their worst outbreaks since the pandemic began https://t.co/V08TW4P6dy

— CNN (@CNN) May 8, 2021

As India reels under a devastating surge of coronavirus cases, it is increasingly clear that the situation is even worse than statistics indicate. https://t.co/2FHqjPAPIA

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) May 6, 2021

India's Tamil Nadu announces lockdown as national COVID fatalities at record high https://t.co/IdbaZYT83A pic.twitter.com/pgrSELtgFZ

— Reuters (@Reuters) May 8, 2021

Soon the #COVID19India
crisis will be a #Nepal crisis, a Dubai one, an Abu Dhabi mess and a London saga….https://t.co/Hcx7bjxx32

— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) May 7, 2021

Philippines Covid surge throws country into disarray https://t.co/6zTvsvWCgw

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 8, 2021

Thailand reports 2,419 new coronavirus cases, 19 new deaths https://t.co/kkXlWJzfSC pic.twitter.com/OC3aSokauJ

— Reuters (@Reuters) May 8, 2021

More than 9,000 Australians are stuck in India, after the Australian government banned arrivals from the countryhttps://t.co/zuTKH65iDU pic.twitter.com/iAOBNnJvo0

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 7, 2021

Russia on Saturday confirmed 8,329 new coronavirus cases and 370 deathshttps://t.co/AwANB1KZ3R

— The Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) May 8, 2021

Europe's vaccine campaign is accelerating. It expects to match the U.S. by July. https://t.co/oMJIUKUunk

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) May 7, 2021

Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 15,685 – RKI https://t.co/xw81udBFCY pic.twitter.com/UYIBvcSyue

— Reuters (@Reuters) May 8, 2021

German call to ban anti-lockdown protesters from using the Nazi yellow star that was forced on Jews https://t.co/6XcjTElPHo

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 7, 2021

"All 3 of the India variants – known as B16171, B16172 and B16173 – have been designated 'under investigation' by Public Health England.
According to internal documents from PHE, the assessment of the ongoing risk to public health from B16172 is 'high'."https://t.co/L7SyU4k61v

— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) May 8, 2021

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#Pfizer has requested full @US_FDA approval for its #COVID19 vaccine.

– Change from emergency use allows sale of shots past pandemic
– Pfizer sees long-term demand as immunity wanes, variants risehttps://t.co/aEwdUI7iIf

— MicrobesInfect (@MicrobesInfect) May 7, 2021

The virus is an airborne threat CDC has acknowledged. In updated guidance, the agency emphasized transmission occurs by inhaling fine respiratory droplets & aerosolized particles. And, via contact w/ sprayed droplets or touching one’s mouth, nose or eyes https://t.co/1rAgXDu71A

— delthia ricks 🔬 (@DelthiaRicks) May 7, 2021

AstraZeneca weighs seeking full, not emergency, U.S. approval for COVID-19 shot – WSJ https://t.co/Kof3dUvsNY pic.twitter.com/YUPtdNRR3t

— Reuters (@Reuters) May 8, 2021

(CNBC) – Moderna said its Covid-19 vaccine is 96% effective in kids ages 12 to 17, according to early data released with the company’s first-quarter earnings Thursday.$MRNA @CNBC https://t.co/ghxzwjRW5R

— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla) May 6, 2021

The World Health Organization approved a COVID-19 vaccine from China's state-owned drugmaker Sinopharm for emergency use. The vaccine is the first developed by a non-Western country to win @WHO backing https://t.co/1U5CZI53dA pic.twitter.com/h3MRIvnT8n

— Reuters (@Reuters) May 8, 2021

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NEW: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO says if @GovRonDeSantis won't let them require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for passengers, they'll take their cruise ships out of Florida. via @taydolven https://t.co/5fAvYMnzVc

— Mary Ellen Klas (@MaryEllenKlas) May 6, 2021

Tucker Carlson seems to have a million questions about the vaccines. I have 2 questions for Tucker. Have you been vaccinated? Why won’t you tell your audience?

— Jonathan Reiner (@JReinerMD) May 7, 2021

Late Night Open Thread: Bullet Dodged

by Anne Laurie| May 8, 202112:52 am| 31 Comments

This post is in: GOP Death Cult, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat

Could’ve been so much worse…

may you find as much joy in your life as members of the republican party when they are on the precipice of fucking over the most vulnerable among us.

bummer for you it failed. big sad. https://t.co/qwf2gwPEiL

— World Famous Art Thief (@CalmSporting) May 7, 2021

Late Night Open Thread: Bullet DodgedPost + Comments (31)

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

It’s been a really long fucking year.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

JFC, are there no editors left at that goddamn rag?

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

Hot air and ill-informed banter

This blog goes to 11…

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!

I can’t take this shit today. I just can’t.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

This fight is for everything.

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

A last alliance of elves and men. also pet photos.

All this crying. this is why i don’t click on stuff.

It’s not even safe to go out and pick up 2 days worth of poop anymore.

Shelter in place is one thing. shelter in pants is quite another.

If senate republicans had any shame, they’d die of it.

The revolution will be supervised.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

You are either for trump or for democracy. Pick one.

These guys can go McFuck themselves.

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

Just a few bad apples.

Sunday Morning Garden Chat: An Update from Satby

COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates: Saturday / Sunday, May 8-9

Saturday Night Open Thread: Cruel Chronos

Saturday Night Diversions Open Thread: VAX Live (Pre-Recorded)

Saturday Morning Open Thread: (White) Housekeeping

COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates: Friday / Saturday, May 7-8

Late Night Open Thread: Bullet Dodged