Blarney Stone kissing re-opens: https://www.irishpost.com/news/kissing-of-the-blarney-stone-reopens-with-new-rules-in-place-to-prevent-covid-19-spread-188083 . The Blarney Stone was closed in March due to COVID-19: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/kissing-blarney-stone-shelved-amid-covid-19-fears-1.4202631 . And, if you find the history in this article to be blarney, here is geological analysis of the Blarney Stone from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blarney_Stone .
China injects hundreds of thousands with experimental vaccine: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-injects-hundreds-of-thousands-with-experimental-covid-19-vaccines-11599834029 . Decades-old safety procedures are falling to national pride. This makes no sense under China’s assertion that it has very few cases.
COVID-19 may have appeared in California in 2019: https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/covid-may-have-been-in-la-as-early-as-december-2019 .
Monkey shortage: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/09/10/covid-vaccine-treatment-trials-create-monkey-shortage-science/5714115002/ . So many possibilities for a political joke here … What’s the difference between the White House and monkeys? Science needs monkeys. What’s the difference between the White House and the National Zoo? Your choice: (a) Pandas at one, panderers at the other; (b) You can learn something by listening at the Zoo; (c) Yeah, I don’t know, either.
ICE mishandling detainee transfers, major outbreak at Farmville: https://apnews.com/c1fe09311e28a02377c1cf1480e52707 . The government fought inspection of the facility.
WSJ: Kids’ forgone check-ups raise alarms: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-postpones-school-sports-physicals-irking-pediatricians-11599825600 . Simple logic tells us preventative medicine is the superior approach to delayed or reactive medicine.
WSJ: Healthcare access for minorities: https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-we-need-more-black-doctorsand-how-to-get-there-11599597158 . This article indirectly raises deeper questions about affirmative action in medical schools, and more broadly for all advanced degrees.
WSJ: Coronavirus now focus of presidential campaign: https://www.wsj.com/articles/campaign-agenda-bounces-back-to-coronavirus-11599840042 .
WSJ: More federal relief aid unlikely, talks stalled: https://www.wsj.com/articles/hopes-fade-for-new-stimulus-checks-federal-jobless-aid-11599824603 .
$300 weekly unemployment benefit ending: https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/your-300-federal-unemployment-benefit-is-ending-heres-everything-you-need-to-know/ .
WSJ: Payroll tax deferral rejected by large employers: https://www.wsj.com/articles/some-large-employers-reject-trumps-payroll-tax-deferral-plan-11599840079 . Even the federal courts opted out.
WSJ: Rural California counties battle governor for relief aid: https://www.wsj.com/articles/rural-california-counties-accuse-newsom-of-withholding-covid-19-funds-11599841784 .
Smoky skies blot out sun: https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/09/09/complete-smoke-out-in-bay-area-darkens-the-daytime/ . It’s the same in Portland; my neighbor’s photosensitive yard light came on an hour early on Wednesday evening – and has been on continuously since … WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/western-wildfires-kill-at-least-15-destroy-millions-of-acres-11599829830 .