August 21, 2020
How are dogs handling the pandemic
The Washington Post collected anecdotes on pets in the age of the coronavirus. There have been anecdotes and threads, but the Washington Post collected tales of how readers' pets were coping with changes caused by the pandemic. [more inside]
Stone Fruit Season
"In the midst of my ennui, wet and haggard and broken, I ate a cold sweet peach. And I wanted to eat another one!" Shing Yin Khor on peaches, for Catapult. [more inside]
"Plant as many seeds as you can, and see what you get."
The Domoto Legacy: Plants and Immigration
Among the Japanese American nurseries in the Bay Area that caught my attention was the largest and most influential one, the Domoto Nursery. Whereas other nurseries were largely preoccupied with growing cut flowers like chrysanthemums, roses, and carnations, the Domoto Nursery was one of the few concentrating on ornamental plants for gardens and landscapes. It too was a major conduit through which plants new to American horticulture were introduced and popularized. Kanetaro and Takanoshin Domoto, the two brothers who immigrated from Wakayama, Japan, had started the business in 1885. The Domoto Nursery soon gained the nickname ‘Domoto College’ for the multitude of young men trained and employed there before opening their businesses as well. At its height, the nursery spanned 40 acres; the San Francisco Call in February 1912 noted that the greenhouses covered 230,000 square feet and the shed 300,000 square feet.By Eric Hsu. [more inside]
The COVID-45 Fall
In the United States, the coronavirus has killed more than 170,000 people and caused over 5.5 million confirmed infections, with deaths rising by more than 1,000 a day on average. As schools reopen, Reuters reports on increasing concerns about children and the coronavirus, Ed Yong describes how long-haulers are redefining COVID-19, and The Guardian reports millions of Americans are scraping by. As noted by Democratic VP nominee Kamala Harris in her 2020 DNC speech, "while this virus touches us all, let's be honest, it is not an equal opportunity offender. Black, Latino and Indigenous people are suffering and dying disproportionately. This is not a coincidence. It is the effect of structural racism." Politico reports Trump continues to insist his adminstration has "done a great job" handling the coronavirus, while the U.S. record is among the worst in the world. [more inside]
Quest of the Avatar
Peter Bebergal on how Ultima IV forced players to grapple with morality in The Computer Game That Led to Enlightenment (The New Yorker) [more inside]
Theories of Everything [Music Video]
Theories of Everything [Music Video] by Sabine Hossenfelder. (YouTube video 1min10sec introduction / explanation and 2min10sec of song). [more inside]
"This is the Senegalese power."
The co-ordinates are: 53.136107, -0.222877
There, in the middle of fields, stands the gorgeous St Leonard's Church A few days ago I got a message from a priest like "do you wanna come and visit this church?" There was one odd thing about it though, he sent me the church name, and the post code - and that was it. No street name, no village, no... Nothing.
Then he sent me co-ordinates. [more inside]
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