Impromptu picnic at the park.

🧺

Did Biden Peak on Inauguration Day? - WSJ

The sudden change in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s mask advice has undermined the administration’s claim to be governed at all times by data and facts. It has revealed to a wider audience what some of us knew all along: that pious claims about “following the science” were as flimsy as a cloth face covering. We’d been told for four months that vaccinations don’t necessarily protect against viral transmission. The CDC’s director warned a few weeks ago about “impending doom.” The president said “neanderthal thinking” drove governors to lift mandates. Suddenly, everything has changed…

AirPods, AirPods Max and AirPods Pro Don’t Support Apple Music Lossless Audio - MacRumors

Listening to lossless audio on an iPhone will require wired headphones and it’s possible an additional dongle will be needed to get the best sound quality. It’s worth noting that 9to5Mac says that AirPods Max will support Hi-Resolution Lossless when used as wired headphones, but it is unclear what equipment is required to make that happen.

Apple 2021!!!

Supreme Court Rules for Oil-and-Gas Companies Fighting Climate Lawsuit - WSJ

Justice Samuel Alito didn’t participate in the case. His public financial disclosures indicate that he has investment holdings in the energy sector that would prohibit him from considering the lawsuit.

Kind of weird that he wouldn’t just be in all mutual funds.

Sunday afternoon storms roll through as I sit with the big kids in the living room reading books.

⛈

Eight Warning Signs You Might Be Sharing Office Space With Terrorists - The Babylon Bee

The tenants upstairs are constantly disrupting things with their loud footsteps and their rocket launches off the roof. - Upstairs tenants are the worst!

Don’t make the same mistake that the AP made.

China Lands Alluring Female Mars Rover To Steal Secrets From NASA Rover - The Babylon Bee

Early reports suggest Perseverance may already be smitten by the Chinese rover, as he keeps following her around and focusing his digital camera on her. “Focus, Perseverence, focus!” said frustrated NASA technicians as their rover once again dropped his dirt sample to ogle Zhurong.

This is a tough one.

It must be pretty difficult for Perseverance to be so far away from home with only his little helicopter to keep him company.

Oops! AP Reporter Forgets To Remove Hamas Headband Before Going Live - The Babylon Bee

“Sorry folks, technical difficulties. As I was saying, Israel and its supporters in the United States have a lot to answer for in the deliberate targeting of the free press.”

AP has horrible editorial control, so it’s not surprising that their poor decision making extends to office leases.

I got this Victorinox Classic SD for my bag to take care of the kids while on the go. I hope that they enjoy the design.

In the summer of 2018, we took a vacation with Alison’s family to Lake Michigan. In a beach house perched on a hill, we enjoyed an idyllic week of swimming, kayaking, sunset walks on the beach, and blueberry picking. Even in the heat of the August sun, the lake breeze kept us cool and comfortable.

During that week, I don’t know how it transpired, by my sister-in-law and I began to exchange haiku. A simple poem with a 5-7-5 pattern provided a perfect way to express a thought or experience. In many cases, the closing line offered an opening to make an amusing point.

Back home the next week, I wrote and published two haiku on my blog summarizing a day of cleaning the house. Then, I kept writing, adding one each day since.

For the past 1,000 days, a haiku has featured as the ending of my day’s posts on this blog. Some funny, many ordinary, they’ve summarized a particular aspect of that day.

I didn’t know how long this project would last, it was a momentum that just kept going. It takes less than 2 minutes to compose and format the poem, and it’s a delightful way to think about my day.

Now that this milestone is here, I’ve decided to end the project. It perfectly captured an insight into my days, and provided an impressive chronology of the past three years of my life. The posts will remain, and a full listing with links will stay active on my blog. It’s time to sunset this activity and move on to something new.

What began as a simple exchange blossomed into a beautiful body of art. Forever providing an intimate look into my life, I will look back on each haiku with delight.

Why the CDC Told Fully Vaccinated Americans They Didn’t Need to Wear Face Masks Anymore - WSJ

It will likely be especially difficult in public settings like stores or workplaces, health researchers say, since there isn’t an easy way to determine who is fully vaccinated.

This is ill-logical.

Vaccine supply is ample. The vaccine, like the mask, protects the vaccinated. So if you want to be protected in public, get the vaccine.

There’s no point or purpose to ascertain vaccination status.

U.S. Businesses Aren’t Budging on Face Masks, for Now - WSJ

Federal health regulators opened the door for many Americans to take off their masks. Much of the business community isn’t quite ready to step through.

When the CDC told us to wear masks, everyone said we must FOLLOW THE SCIENCE.

Now the CDC says we don’t need to wear masks, but that’s just “guidance.”

Looks to me like the tide has gone out.

Middle Easterners Run For Bomb Shelters After Learning U.S. Suffering Oil Shortages - The Babylon Bee

“They’re running out of gasoline? We’re in danger! Ruuuun!!!” shouted one man in Syria as he grabbed his wife’s hand and urged his kids to run into their bomb shelter.

Okay, that’s funny.

Friend of the day.

Benedict’s Art from yesterday.

His drawings are now quite intricate.

Fully Vaccinated People Can Stop Wearing Face Masks, Physical Distancing in Most Settings, CDC Says - WSJ

Fully vaccinated people don’t need to wear a mask or physically distance during outdoor or indoor activities, large or small, federal health officials said, the fullest easing of pandemic recommendations so far.

Finally, guidance that makes sense!

N.B. CDC is still hedging on public transport (including airplanes), healthcare settings, and prisons.

It also said the fully vaccinated should wear masks when required by federal and local officials and by individual businesses and workplaces.

Ummm, but you just said…

Dick Cheney Invites Trump On Reconciliatory Hunting Trip - The Babylon Bee

Cheney smiled. “No, no hard feelings. Just be careful out there.” Cheney loaded his shotgun. “Accidents happen.”

White House Reminds Nation That Permission Slips To Eat A Hot Dog On The 4th Of July Are Due By Friday - The Babylon Bee

With the COVID risks involved in gathering around the grill and the choking risks of eating processed meat, we ask that you please get a slip signed by your mommy, daddy, or local magistrate before partaking.

Just turned mine in!

My May edition of Magnificat arrived.

Thanks, USPS!