"As parts of the US have lifted shutdown orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, there's been a fierce argument online about the risks and benefits of reopening. New research suggests that bots have been dominating that debate… Carnegie Mellon University researchers analyzed over 200 million tweets discussing COVID-19 and related issues since January and found that roughly half the accounts — including 62% of the 1,000 most influential retweeters — appeared to be bots, they said in a report published this week." Do you really want to listen to what Skynet tells you to do? (Grokked from Anne Wheaton)
"Packing beaches, pool parties and outdoor gatherings all over the US, many Americans used the holiday weekend to mark the unofficial beginning of summer -- ditching the face masks and social distancing urged by health officials." This is how we die.
"People across the country attempted to kick off summer this holiday weekend, as beaches, parks and bars began to reopen while following social distancing guidelines with varying degrees of success." Stupid is as stupid does, sir.
"And there's no such thing as a zero-risk outing right now. As states begin allowing businesses and public areas to reopen, decisions about what's safe will be up to individuals. It can help to think through the risks the way the experts do."
"Countries where coronavirus infections are declining could still face an 'immediate second peak' if they let up too soon on measures to halt the outbreak, the World Health Organization said on Monday." Ta-da! Well, immediate as in 10-14 days later.
What does it matter if people don't have science classes? "In the scientific world, it’s expected that even the highest-ranking academics will evolve their thinking — and many have done so during this Covid-19 pandemic… But some scientists fear that the public doesn’t understand this, and is losing faith in scientists who change their minds. And that’s having real consequences on the front lines." Add in the intentional misinformation campaigns and it creates a potent stew of mistrust.
"U.S. small firms leave $150 billion in coronavirus stimulus untapped." How's that outsourcing plan going?
"Relations between the U.S. and China — the world’s top two economies — look set to worsen, and the endgame is a 'lose-lose' situation for both sides, said a political science professor from Harvard University." Fancy that.
"A white woman has apologized for calling police on a black man bird-watching in Central Park on Monday morning after the two argued about her unleashed dog." She says she didn't mean to threaten the man asking her to put her dog on the leash. Yeah, sure, Amy. We believe you (side-eye).
"A video taken by an onlooker Monday evening shows a Minneapolis police officer keeping his knee on the neck of a motionless, moaning man at the foot of a squad car. The man later died."
"S. Lee Merritt, an attorney for the family of Ahmaud Arbery, told CNN on Monday that the US Department of Justice is investigating the shooting death as a hate crime." Gee, ya think?
"The widower of a woman whose 2001 death has become fodder for baseless conspiracy theories spread by President Donald Trump is appealing directly to the head of Twitter to take down the president‘s tweets." Hey Jack, time to start enforcing the TOS when it comes to the political elite. But then, that would betray your politics, wouldn't it.
"President Donald Trump on Monday shared a tweet mocking his presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential challenger, Joe Biden, for wearing a face mask at a public Memorial Day appearance."
"President Trump’s struggles to stand still during a Memorial Day visit to Arlington National Cemetery lit up social media Monday, prompting users to recall past incidents in which the commander in chief, who turns 74 next month, battled to find a balance." Never mind the asshole salutes during the National Anthem. You're not in uniform, Sparky. Hand over heart.
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