It seems like Blue Check Twitter was taking turns whining about wearing masks outside all weekend. 🙄 “WhY aRe VaCcInAtEd PeOpLe WeArInG mAsKs OuTsIdE?” they complain, and then go on to pontificate about the incredibly low odds of catching COVID-19 while wandering around outside.
I dunno, maybe because over half a million people have died in the US and we’re all still feeling a little twitchy about it? Maybe because we don’t know shit yet and better safe than sorry? Maybe because not everyone is vaxxed yet? Maybe because not everyone can be vaxxed and they should get to be/feel safe too? Maybe because even mild or asymptomatic COVID can still cause lasting harm and we don’t want to deal with that?
And like, yeah, it’s fairly safe to be outside without a mask for most people, especially if you’ve been vaccinated. I don’t wear a mask outside unless I’m going to be an area where there’ll be other people around and I’m not sure if I’ll be able to stay away from them. Like, walking my dog around the neighborhood where I can step off the sidewalk or cross the street if I see people? No mask. In town where there’ll be folks wandering around everywhere? Mask.
But we have a population that’s still, a year later, failing to understand that the mask needs to cover your mouth and your nose. Maybe don’t complicate things for people? Just a thought. Wear a mask.
News & Stuff
🎥 Hey, first trailer for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings! Watch the trailer. See, this is what Iron Fist should have looked like.
📺 Also, trailer for season two of Love Death + Robots, Netflix’ sci-fi anime thing. Watch the trailer. S1 was pretty awesome, so I’m looking forward to S2.
😷 Here’s an Atlantic writer whining about wearing masks outside, just to illustrate my opening monologue up there. Important note: Dude’s not wrong, per se. For most people, the odds of catching COVID-19 outside while unmasked are probably pretty small. And yeah, at some point we’re gonna have to transition into whatever “normal” looks like from here out. But today is not that day and the only people who want to hear this BS right now are the anti-mask dillweeds, so maybe don’t?
🚁 They got the little helicopter on Mars to fly today! W00t!
🇷🇺 Surprise, there was a Trump-Russia connection. I know, I know, you’re shocked. Manafort was giving campaign polling data to Konstantin Kilimnik, who’s very probably a Russian intelligence officer.
⚖️ Congressional Democrats have introduced a bill to expand the SCotUS from 9 justices to 13, which is awesome. Probably won’t happen, but still.
🦋 Lawns are bad. No, for real, they’re not good. They’re bad for the environment, and you’re better off planting a yard full of native plants, meadows, and etc., that provides habitats for birds, bees, butterflies, and various little critters. Nevada is working to ban lawns on public property.
🏳️⚧️ Please stop trying to use sports as a wedge issue to make transgender people illegal. Okay? Most people are fine with transgender people playing the sports and/or on the teams that match their gender identity.
🍽️ Here’s another thing business owners were getting journalists on Twitter to whine about all last week: They can’t find employees. Most of the business owners here are restaurant owners, and mostly they’re whining that they can’t get people to risk their lives during a pandemic for a job that pays poverty wages, offers no benefits, and historically treats their employees like trash.
💉 Some good news: More than half the adults in the US have gotten at least one shot of a vaccine, and starting today, everyone 16 years old and above is eligible for a shot. Go get them shots, folks!
To wrap up, here’s an adorable cartoon featuring Mr. Rogers and Thor.
Notes & Thoughts 