Our daily news feeds may be dominated by two stories -- the coronavirus pandemic and the election campaign (Biden chose Harris as his VP) -- but there occasionally are unrelated developments of note. Here are a few of them today:
* Amazon Satellites Add to Astronomers’ Worries About the Night Sky -- The F.C.C. approved the company’s 3,236-satellite constellation, which aims to provide high-speed internet service around the world. (New York Times)
* A judge in California granted a preliminary injunction on requiring major ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft to classify their drivers as employees, rather than as independent contractors — which would mean the companies have to provide them with additional benefits. In the ruling, the San Francisco judge accused the companies of a “prolonged and brazen refusal to comply with California law,” saying it was “high time that they face up to their responsibilities to their workers and to the public.” Uber and Lyft have been fighting the measure. [HuffPost]
* A swarm of earthquakes under the Salton Sea prompted worries that it might raise the chance of a much larger event on the San Andreas fault. [The Los Angeles Times]
* As the Apple Fire raged this month, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians was caught on its perimeter. But the tribe’s Fire Department played a critical role in battling the blaze. [The Desert Sun]
* A Google Earth user who spotted a 428ft 'ice ship' trapped 100 miles off the coast of Antarctica has sparked conspiracy theories of a 'cover up'. (Mirror)
* Revelstoke has been in Hallmark movies. Now, it’s going to be featured in an upcoming documentary on extraterrestrials. A trio of UFO explorers stayed on Sale Mountain in July with an extensive set of camera gear in hopes of making contact, which, according to the trio, often means witnessing unexplainable lights in the sky. (Keremeos Review)
***
We won't be following up on most of those.
It is perfectly understandable that after you've had a stroke, everyone sort of stays alert for signs that you may begin to exhibit neurological decline.
As one who is committed to remaining accountable on this score, I have to report a suspicious incident that occurred Tuesday morning.
I was working in the baby's room in my son Peter's house when his contractor arrived with a building inspector.
"Is Peter around?" he asked me.
"I'm Peter's son," I answered sincerely
.
He chuckled.
It took me a while to correct the record.
I'll let you and my neurologist know if this keeps happening. The thing is, I can't remember who my neurologist is.
***
It may be the strangest season in the entire history of the national pastime, which started in the 1800s. Did you know that the first official game of baseball in the United States took place in June 1846 in Hoboken?
Hoboken is one of the few American cities that I was thrilled to visit for the first time, along with Key West, Honolulu, Boston, New Orleans, St. Louis, Charleston and Memphis.
Only two of those cities have baseball teams.
Out here, our favorite team, the Giants, are not a strong contender for the playoffs in this Covid-shortened season but their games are still fun to watch, for the pure love of it.
Last night, for example, the Giants trailed the Astros 6-2 late in the game when they started a furious comeback rally led by aging star Hunter Pence.
It's impossible not to like Pence, a lanky, awkward, enthusiastic athlete who inspires his teammates by his all-out style of play. Last night he led the way with four RBIs as the Giants won in extra innings, 7-6.
Will it change anything in a big way in our lives? No. But it was a happy moment when we did not think about Covid-19 or the likely calamity that may occur on Nov. 3.
It was pure fun and we can all use more of that.
***
In America you'll get food to eat
Won't have to run through the jungle
And scuff up your feet
You'll just sing about Jesus and drink wine all day
It's great to be an American
Ain't no lions or tigers ain't no mamba snake
Just the sweet watermelon and the buckwheat cake
Everybody is as happy as a man can be
Climb aboard little wog sail away with me
Sail away sail away
We will cross the mighty ocean into Charleston Bay
Sail away-sail away
We will cross the mighty ocean into Charleston Bay
In America every man is free
To take care of his home and his family
You'll be as happy as a monkey in a monkey tree
You're all gonna be an American
Sail away sail away
We will cross the mighty ocean into Charleston Bay
Sail away-sail away
We will cross the mighty ocean into Charleston Bay
-- Randy Newman
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