San Diego Zoo Reopens To Members | Masks Still Work | Black Lives Still Matter | Zoo Photos

Andean Bear Cub, Agapito (Taken 6.16.2020)

It's nearly 11pm and I finally got through all of today's news and emails. I woke up bright and shiny this morning and took Nova to the San Diego Zoo for the member preview days (Tu-Th, 9am-5pm, Before the reopen to the public on Saturday) and I was super nervous about it, but it ended up being awesome, never too crowded, and we were there for just about 3 hours, so we didn't have to use the facilities. I had some beautiful moments with baby hippo Amahle, the mandrills were up to their usual antics, and all the Babirusas were cute as ever and love attention. Hoping to head back there or Safari Park over the next two days. Everyone was wearing masks and observing physical distancing and the staff was on top of sanitization. It was lovely. The rest of the day was email and news, though I made a pretty amazing dinner with Argentinian red shrimp, corn, and rice. Now we're in the speakeasy cleaning more stuff out while cocktailing and it's pretty chill, so I'm gonna say goodnight and maybe I'll have more news tomorrow. Lots of Zoo pics at the end of the post. 

 

• A long read, but so powerful. The Trayvon Generation - New Yorker (6.15.2020)
• Related: Trevor Noah Tries to Make Sense of Rayshard Brooks Killing - Vanity Fair (6.16.2020)

• This graphic is from the CDC, based on a survey from May 5-12. It would be super interesting to see the updated for a month later. I've been thinking that the people out at bars and partying downtown and maskless are just feeling like they own the streets, forcing all of us old and 'underlying condition' humans to stay home, clearly ignoring or refusing to acknowledge that 38% of cases in San Diego are ages 20-40. That number jumps to 53% if you consider ages 20-50 (based on San Diego County data from 6.15.2020)
• From the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security: Coronavirus Research Updates: Bars, Karaoke and Gyms can Aid ‘Superspread’ - Nature (6.15.2020)
• "Clusters of coronavirus infections are often linked to events many people breathe heavily while packed together, such as karaoke parties and and gym sessions, according to a survey in Japan. Hitoshi Oshitani at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan, and his colleagues analysed clusters of at least five infected people who had all attended the same event or venue. Many of the 61 ‘superspreading’ incidents they identified occurred in hospitals, nursing homes and other care facilities, but a little more than half took place at venues such as musical events, restaurants and workplaces."