vox--2020-05-02--The politics of the books we display behind us during video calls

Welcome to Vox ’ s weekly book link roundup , a curated selection of the internet ’ s best writing on books and related subjects .
Bafflingly , although it took a thousand years for March to go by , April has slipped past me between eyeblinks .
Still , plenty of people spent April writing about and thinking about books , so let ’ s go over the best of it from the last week of the cruelest month .
Here is the internet ’ s best writing on books and related subjects for the week of April 26 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times is getting in on the “ judge celebrities by their bookshelves ” game .
First , Gal Beckerman played the game , zooming in on the shelves sitting behind celebs from Cate Blanchett to Paul Rudd .
Prince Charles ’ s bookshelves hold disconcertingly exactly what I would imagine him reading : 1 .
“ Stubbs , ” by Basil Taylor : A biography of the 18th-century English painter best known for his depictions of horses .
2 .
“ Shattered , ” by Dick Francis : From the master of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and glassblowing .
3 .
“ Kings in Grass Castles , ” by Mary Durack : A 1959 Australian classic about the outback during the 19th century .
He probably also owns the sequel : “ Sons in the Saddle.
” • And second , Amanda Hess critiqued the game , analyzing the rise of the “ credibility bookshelf ” : The credibility bookcase , with its towering , idiosyncratic array of worn volumes , is itself an affectation .
The expert could choose to speak in front of his art prints or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but he chooses to be framed by his books .
It is the most insidious of aesthetic trends : one that masquerades as pure intellectual exercise .
• Finally , Tim McKeough shows you how to play the game yourself , talking to experts about the best way to organize your bookshelves : But how much thought have you given to the way you store your books ?
Even if your collection seems like a mountainous , unruly mess , it can add appeal to your home — provided you display it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about who the homeowner is , ” said Nina Freudenberger , the owner of the design firm Haus Interior in Los Angeles , and the author of “ Bibliostyle : How We Live at Home with Books.
” “ Books tell us about what someone was interested in , what their passions are , what their beliefs are and what kind of person they hope to be , ” Ms. Freudenberger said .
“ Homes without books have no soul.
” • In the LA Times , Leslie Pariseau talks to the writers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ artist residencies : If you aren ’ t familiar with the residency model , it may sound like a cushy retreat in the woods or a beach vacation — creative summer camp for adults .
At the most competitive residencies , room and board and sometimes modest stipends are included .
Getting stuck there in a pandemic could be construed as the artists ’ corollary to that now-infamous honeymooning couple stuck in the Maldives .
But the reality is these retreats constitute a support system for artists and writers struggling to cobble together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s — and likely next season ’ s — resident-hopefuls , who would otherwise be making travel plans , will not be going anywhere .
And even those stranded at the tip of Massachusetts are unsure of where they ’ ll go next .
• At Atlas Obscura , Claire Voon has compiled a list of virtual library tours you can take from your living room .
• At the Prospect , Harry Harris explains how the history of rhyming dictionaries reveals the history of literary snobbery : Rhyme is one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ language .
There is evidence to suggest that it helps with language acquisition and other semantic development , and studies have also observed a link between rhyme and our aesthetic enjoyment of poetry .
But among some literary circles , there is a snobbery about its use .
Sceptics deride the use of rhyme as an artistic crutch , believing that it stands in way of achieving deeper , loftier literary aspirations .
A common target of their ire is the rhyming dictionary—a handy manual full of avenues that poets of all abilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may scoff , the long history of rhyming dictionaries shows their curious role in making poetry accessible to the masses .
• At Vice , Caroline Edwards tracks the rise of the dark academia aesthetic across TikTok : The aesthetic is listening to Chopin on vinyl , while curled up with a book — likely by the Beats or Baudelaire — in dim candlelight , whilst sipping a cup of tea .
It ’ s bringing a sketchbook to the museum and musing over ancient statues , drawing the furrowed brow and soft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with overpriced Barbour jackets and houndstooth trousers , complete with shiny Oxfords , to give the illusion of a brooding scholar who has an acceptance letter to Brown .
Essentially , it ’ s living like a moody YA character who drinks whiskey while writing essays just because his favorite author did the same .
• At the Cut , Matthew Schneier suggests that now is the perfect time to memorize a poem .
I , because I was that kind of teenager , taught myself “ Make me a willow cabin ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still , privately , inside my own head .
It brings me joy , if no one else .
Here ’ s how Schneier makes his case : Poetry is sticky .
Prose slips .
Barbed and spurred , poems catch in your chest ; they get stuck in your head like songs .
Still , to admit to liking poetry is faintly embarrassing .
The familiar stereotypes cling : The old stuff is out of touch ; the new is pretentious , mawkish , or insincere .
If you charm your beloved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troubadour , ridiculous ; you might even be a cad .
( Poetry can be used and abused .
Robert Lowell chopped up his devastated ex-wife Elizabeth Hardwick ’ s letters and served them forth in his own poetry collection , The Dolphin . )
“ Poetry makes nothing happen , ” W. H. Auden , one of our greatest poets , famously wrote .
“ I , too , dislike it , ” added Marianne Moore in a poem called “ Poetry.
” But wait !
“ Reading it , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one / discovers that there is in / it after all , a place for the genuine.
” And here ’ s the week in books at Vox : • The editor of Taco Bell Quarterly explains how to make art out of a fast food brand • Lawrence Wright ’ s new pandemic thriller is infuriating to read • Book recommendations for when you want to change your perspective but can ’ t travel • The Vox Book Club pick for May is Donna Tartt ’ s The Secret History • Watch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vox Book Club why “ cities are inherently terrifying ” As always , you can keep up with all our books coverage by visiting vox.com/books .
Happy reading !
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

Welcome to Vox’s weekly book link roundup, a curated selection of the internet’s best writing on books and related subjects.
Bafflingly, although it took a thousand years for March to go by, April has slipped past me between eyeblinks. Still, plenty of people spent April writing about and thinking about books, so let’s go over the best of it from the last week of the cruelest month. Here is the internet’s best writing on books and related subjects for the week of April 26, 2020.
The New York Times is getting in on the “judge celebrities by their bookshelves” game. First, Gal Beckerman played the game, zooming in on the shelves sitting behind celebs from Cate Blanchett to Paul Rudd. Prince Charles’s bookshelves hold disconcertingly exactly what I would imagine him reading:
1. “Stubbs,” by Basil Taylor: A biography of the 18th-century English painter best known for his depictions of horses. 2. “Shattered,” by Dick Francis: From the master of the equine thriller, a novel of horse-racing and glassblowing. 3. “Kings in Grass Castles,” by Mary Durack: A 1959 Australian classic about the outback during the 19th century. He probably also owns the sequel: “Sons in the Saddle.”
And second, Amanda Hess critiqued the game, analyzing the rise of the “credibility bookshelf”:
The credibility bookcase, with its towering, idiosyncratic array of worn volumes, is itself an affectation. The expert could choose to speak in front of his art prints or his television or his blank white walls, but he chooses to be framed by his books. It is the most insidious of aesthetic trends: one that masquerades as pure intellectual exercise.
Finally, Tim McKeough shows you how to play the game yourself, talking to experts about the best way to organize your bookshelves:
But how much thought have you given to the way you store your books? Even if your collection seems like a mountainous, unruly mess, it can add appeal to your home — provided you display it well. Books “tell a story about who the homeowner is,” said Nina Freudenberger, the owner of the design firm Haus Interior in Los Angeles, and the author of “Bibliostyle: How We Live at Home with Books.” “Books tell us about what someone was interested in, what their passions are, what their beliefs are and what kind of person they hope to be,” Ms. Freudenberger said. “Homes without books have no soul.”
In the LA Times, Leslie Pariseau talks to the writers who have found themselves locked down inside artist residencies:
If you aren’t familiar with the residency model, it may sound like a cushy retreat in the woods or a beach vacation — creative summer camp for adults. At the most competitive residencies, room and board and sometimes modest stipends are included. Getting stuck there in a pandemic could be construed as the artists’ corollary to that now-infamous honeymooning couple stuck in the Maldives. But the reality is these retreats constitute a support system for artists and writers struggling to cobble together a livelihood. Most of this season’s — and likely next season’s — resident-hopefuls, who would otherwise be making travel plans, will not be going anywhere. And even those stranded at the tip of Massachusetts are unsure of where they’ll go next.
Rhyme is one of the first ways we are introduced to language. There is evidence to suggest that it helps with language acquisition and other semantic development, and studies have also observed a link between rhyme and our aesthetic enjoyment of poetry. But among some literary circles, there is a snobbery about its use. Sceptics deride the use of rhyme as an artistic crutch, believing that it stands in way of achieving deeper, loftier literary aspirations. A common target of their ire is the rhyming dictionary—a handy manual full of avenues that poets of all abilities can run down. But while they may scoff, the long history of rhyming dictionaries shows their curious role in making poetry accessible to the masses.
At Vice, Caroline Edwards tracks the rise of the dark academia aesthetic across TikTok:
The aesthetic is listening to Chopin on vinyl, while curled up with a book — likely by the Beats or Baudelaire — in dim candlelight, whilst sipping a cup of tea. It’s bringing a sketchbook to the museum and musing over ancient statues, drawing the furrowed brow and soft lips. It’s wearing turtlenecks with overpriced Barbour jackets and houndstooth trousers, complete with shiny Oxfords, to give the illusion of a brooding scholar who has an acceptance letter to Brown. Essentially, it’s living like a moody YA character who drinks whiskey while writing essays just because his favorite author did the same.
At the Cut, Matthew Schneier suggests that now is the perfect time to memorize a poem. I, because I was that kind of teenager, taught myself “Make me a willow cabin” in high school and can do it still, privately, inside my own head. It brings me joy, if no one else. Here’s how Schneier makes his case:
Poetry is sticky. Prose slips. Barbed and spurred, poems catch in your chest; they get stuck in your head like songs. Still, to admit to liking poetry is faintly embarrassing. The familiar stereotypes cling: The old stuff is out of touch; the new is pretentious, mawkish, or insincere. If you charm your beloved with poetry, you’re a troubadour, ridiculous; you might even be a cad. (Poetry can be used and abused. Robert Lowell chopped up his devastated ex-wife Elizabeth Hardwick’s letters and served them forth in his own poetry collection, The Dolphin.) “Poetry makes nothing happen,” W. H. Auden, one of our greatest poets, famously wrote. “I, too, dislike it,” added Marianne Moore in a poem called “Poetry.” But wait! “Reading it, however, with a perfect contempt for it, one / discovers that there is in / it after all, a place for the genuine.”
And here’s the week in books at Vox:
As always, you can keep up with all our books coverage by visiting vox.com/books. Happy reading!


vox--2020-05-03--The White House signals a pause on coronavirus aid, even as the economic situation becomes more urge

The White House signals a pause on coronavirus aid, even as the economic situation becomes more urgent

The White House would like to put a pause on a fourth coronavirus spending package .
But can the country really afford to ?
In an appearance on CNN ’ s State of the Union with Jake Tapper on Sunday , White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said the Trump administration is taking a wait-and-see approach on providing more federal support for Americans as the United States continues to weather the coronavirus crisis and the accompanying economic downturn .
“ Well , I don ’ t want to get too far ahead of the story , Jake , ” Kudlow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional legislation .
There ’ s a kind of pause period right now .
You know , we have put up $ 3 trillion of direct federal budget assistance in one way or another ; the Federal Reserve has actually put in as much $ 4 to $ 6 trillion .
So it ’ s a huge , huge package.
” The former CNBC host told Tapper the White House wants to see what happens “ as we gradually open the economy ” — a move more than two dozen states are making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the administration will “ probably have some ideas.
” But the administration isn ’ t champing at the bit to provide more help .
“ We will see in a couple of weeks , Jake , what needs to be done and perhaps how to do it , ” Kudlow said .
However , the economy remains in a serious crisis , with governors from both parties , economists , and Democratic lawmakers warning more help will be needed , and getting started on that work can ’ t wait .
States and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their finances are in trouble as spending has skyrocketed in response to the health crisis and revenue has fallen off a cliff .
States are warning they ’ ll face enormous budget shortfalls and be forced to make catastrophic cuts without federal assistance .
President Donald Trump has suggested relief will be used as leverage to force states and cities to change their immigration policies , a message reinforced by Kudlow on Sunday .
Meanwhile , the first round of federal funding for small business loans under the Paycheck Protection Act was quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but already , an additional $ 179 billion has been given out .
Essential workers still lack protections and aren ’ t getting federal hazard pay .
Expanded unemployment insurance — which provides an additional $ 600 in weekly benefits for displaced workers — is set to lapse at the end of July .
States are still figuring out how to get medical equipment and seeing increased health and medical costs .
The country is not back to business as usual .
And the coronavirus crisis isn ’ t close to over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has enacted three sweeping coronavirus-related packages , the last one being the Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security Act , or the CARES Act , a $ 2.2 trillion stimulus package .
President Trump signed it into law in late March .
Now , a fourth bill is taking shape , but there ’ s hardly a consensus around it .
As Vox ’ s Ella Nilsen lays out , Republicans and Democrats are at an impasse over state and local funding — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has gone as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declare bankruptcy , which is currently not permitted under federal law .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has suggested the bill could cost billions .
And both parties , plus the White House , have competing wish lists .
For example , Democrats are pushing for hazard pay for workers , and Republicans are concerned about protecting businesses from liability if workers and customers get sick .
But whatever the disagreements , Congress and the White House will need to address them , because of the dire economic and health crisis .
On Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a press conference he believes the economy will contract by an “ unprecedented rate in the second quarter ” and warned that a double-digit unemployment rate in April is possible .
Roughly 30 million Americans have filed jobless claims over the past six weeks , and unemployment numbers from April will be released Friday .
“ Both the depth and the duration of the economic downturn are extraordinarily uncertain and will depend in large part on how quickly the virus is brought under control .
The severity of the downturn will also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all levels of government to cushion the blow and to support the recovery when the public health crisis passes , ” Powell said .
He said Congress ’ s reaction thus far , including the Paycheck Protection Program and expanded unemployment insurance , have amounted to an “ extraordinary , historically large reaction ” from lawmakers .
“ But I would say that it may well be the case that the economy will need more support from all of us if the recovery is going to be a robust one.
” If the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures , as Kudlow , the White House , and some Republicans are suggesting , it could slow that recovery markedly .
For example , states may have to lay off employees , make cuts to education , and scale back infrastructure spending , creating an even bigger drag on the economy .
Some politicians are worried about overdoing it on support , but the real concern is the opposite .
“ The risk of doing too little is much greater than the risk of doing too much , ” Betsey Stevenson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and former Obama administration official , recently told me .
On Sunday , Kudlow , who in February said the virus was contained despite a growing chorus of warnings from health officials , offered a rather rosy prediction of the US economy ’ s future .
Current support via the Paycheck Protection Program and expanded unemployment , combined with state reopenings , could suggest a “ potential strong spring-back ” in May and June , he said , adding he thinks 2021 could be a “ spectacular year in the economy.
” Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that better days are just around the corner .
But he undercuts his own hopes and aspirations by promoting a sit-back-and-wait approach .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

The White House would like to put a pause on a fourth coronavirus spending package. But can the country really afford to?
In an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union with Jake Tapper on Sunday, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said the Trump administration is taking a wait-and-see approach on providing more federal support for Americans as the United States continues to weather the coronavirus crisis and the accompanying economic downturn.
“Well, I don’t want to get too far ahead of the story, Jake,” Kudlow said. “There may well be additional legislation. There’s a kind of pause period right now. You know, we have put up $3 trillion of direct federal budget assistance in one way or another; the Federal Reserve has actually put in as much $4 to $6 trillion. So it’s a huge, huge package.”
The former CNBC host told Tapper the White House wants to see what happens “as we gradually open the economy” — a move more than two dozen states are making or are about to make — and the administration will “probably have some ideas.” But the administration isn’t champing at the bit to provide more help. “We will see in a couple of weeks, Jake, what needs to be done and perhaps how to do it,” Kudlow said.
However, the economy remains in a serious crisis, with governors from both parties, economists, and Democratic lawmakers warning more help will be needed, and getting started on that work can’t wait.
States and cities have been sounding the alarm that their finances are in trouble as spending has skyrocketed in response to the health crisis and revenue has fallen off a cliff. States are warning they’ll face enormous budget shortfalls and be forced to make catastrophic cuts without federal assistance. President Donald Trump has suggested relief will be used as leverage to force states and cities to change their immigration policies, a message reinforced by Kudlow on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the first round of federal funding for small business loans under the Paycheck Protection Act was quickly tapped out. Congress has replenished it, but already, an additional $179 billion has been given out. Essential workers still lack protections and aren’t getting federal hazard pay. Expanded unemployment insurance — which provides an additional $600 in weekly benefits for displaced workers — is set to lapse at the end of July. States are still figuring out how to get medical equipment and seeing increased health and medical costs. The country is not back to business as usual. And the coronavirus crisis isn’t close to over.
Thus far, the federal government has enacted three sweeping coronavirus-related packages, the last one being the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or the CARES Act, a $2.2 trillion stimulus package. President Trump signed it into law in late March.
Now, a fourth bill is taking shape, but there’s hardly a consensus around it. As Vox’s Ella Nilsen lays out, Republicans and Democrats are at an impasse over state and local funding — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has gone as far as to suggest states should just declare bankruptcy, which is currently not permitted under federal law. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has suggested the bill could cost billions. And both parties, plus the White House, have competing wish lists. For example, Democrats are pushing for hazard pay for workers, and Republicans are concerned about protecting businesses from liability if workers and customers get sick.
But whatever the disagreements, Congress and the White House will need to address them, because of the dire economic and health crisis.
On Wednesday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said at a press conference he believes the economy will contract by an “unprecedented rate in the second quarter” and warned that a double-digit unemployment rate in April is possible. Roughly 30 million Americans have filed jobless claims over the past six weeks, and unemployment numbers from April will be released Friday.
“Both the depth and the duration of the economic downturn are extraordinarily uncertain and will depend in large part on how quickly the virus is brought under control. The severity of the downturn will also depend on the policy actions taken at all levels of government to cushion the blow and to support the recovery when the public health crisis passes,” Powell said.
He said Congress’s reaction thus far, including the Paycheck Protection Program and expanded unemployment insurance, have amounted to an “extraordinary, historically large reaction” from lawmakers. “But I would say that it may well be the case that the economy will need more support from all of us if the recovery is going to be a robust one.”
If the federal government were to pause further stimulus measures, as Kudlow, the White House, and some Republicans are suggesting, it could slow that recovery markedly. For example, states may have to lay off employees, make cuts to education, and scale back infrastructure spending, creating an even bigger drag on the economy. Some politicians are worried about overdoing it on support, but the real concern is the opposite.
“The risk of doing too little is much greater than the risk of doing too much,” Betsey Stevenson, an economist at the University of Michigan and former Obama administration official, recently told me.
On Sunday, Kudlow, who in February said the virus was contained despite a growing chorus of warnings from health officials, offered a rather rosy prediction of the US economy’s future. Current support via the Paycheck Protection Program and expanded unemployment, combined with state reopenings, could suggest a “potential strong spring-back” in May and June, he said, adding he thinks 2021 could be a “spectacular year in the economy.”
Many economists disagree with Kudlow’s assessment that better days are just around the corner. But he undercuts his own hopes and aspirations by promoting a sit-back-and-wait approach.


vox--2020-05-03--Trump responds to Bush’s call for bipartisan unity with tweets attacking his enemies

Amid rising confirmed coronavirus case counts , and a death toll that has begun to plateau , President Donald Trump spent much of Sunday lashing out at politicians , attacking the media , and bragging about his poll numbers .
He also seemed to suggest Covid-19 is a cosmic or biblical force — and one that has already been stopped .
Sunday morning , the president panned former President George W. Bush ’ s recent call for bipartisan unity in the face of the coronavirus pandemic , arguing his predecessor should have spoken up on his behalf during Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remember how small our differences are in the face of this shared threat , ” Bush said Saturday in a video message to the public .
“ In the final analysis , we are not partisan combatants.
” Trump felt this was inappropriate , however , quoting comments made by Pete Hegseth , a weekend cohost of Fox & Friends , who asked “ where [ Bush ] was during impeachment calling for putting partisanship aside.
” To this , Trump added , “ He was nowhere to be found in speaking up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” After sending out the tweet about Bush , Trump proceeded to send out one adversarial and divisive post after another .
He deemed NBC and CNN “ Chinese puppets who want to do business there ” and “ the enemy of the people.
” He boasted about his approval ratings among Republicans and said that a new Gallup poll shows “ Trump beating Sleepy Joe Biden.
” ( It does not . )
He said there were “ many complaints coming in ” over Maine ’ s coronavirus response ( despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ratings ) — and then added that he won the state .
He also retweeted some of his old tweets , one in which he declared a video of a boat owner who painted Trump ’ s name onto his boat “ very cool , ” and another in which he falsely claims Democrats want “ OPEN BORDERS.
” He capped off his spree with a tweet about America coming together as a nation — and it was an odd one , in which he described an America rising from the “ death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great and powerful Plague ” that led to “ lost souls all over the World : ” Trump ’ s tone in the tweet , which didn ’ t seem to have any obvious contextual explanation , was roundly mocked on social media by his critics .
“ Camus wept , ” quipped Charles Pierce , a politics writer for Esquire .
Talking Points Memo founder Josh Marshall tweeted , “ tfw you try to bible-speak on twitter.
” The tweet appeared to suggest the danger posed by the coronavirus had largely passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the past tense , but with its biblical language also seemed to place blame for the virus on some force greater than Trump himself , and one that he didn ’ t have control over .
While it is true that the coronavirus is believed to have come from nature , in reality , Trump has botched countless opportunities to fight against the virus .
Among many other things , he downplayed its dangers , dismantled the bureaucratic expertise required to manage a pandemic , refused to swiftly take steps to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and conditioned aid to states on political favors .
These latest tweets have come during a period of heavy Twitter activity by the president .
In general , Trump appears to tweet more when he feels under siege and wants to push back against particular narratives or Democratic attacks that undermine his reputation .
Given that Trump is constantly under fire these days for his catastrophic mismanagement of the American coronavirus response , it ’ s not exactly surprising that he took to Twitter to unleash a wave of attacks .
Every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

Amid rising confirmed coronavirus case counts, and a death toll that has begun to plateau, President Donald Trump spent much of Sunday lashing out at politicians, attacking the media, and bragging about his poll numbers. He also seemed to suggest Covid-19 is a cosmic or biblical force — and one that has already been stopped.
Sunday morning, the president panned former President George W. Bush’s recent call for bipartisan unity in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, arguing his predecessor should have spoken up on his behalf during Trump’s impeachment process.
“Let us remember how small our differences are in the face of this shared threat,” Bush said Saturday in a video message to the public. “In the final analysis, we are not partisan combatants.”
Trump felt this was inappropriate, however, quoting comments made by Pete Hegseth, a weekend cohost of Fox & Friends, who asked “where [Bush] was during impeachment calling for putting partisanship aside.” To this, Trump added, “He was nowhere to be found in speaking up against the greatest Hoax in American history!”
.@PeteHegseth “Oh bye the way, I appreciate the message from former President Bush, but where was he during Impeachment calling for putting partisanship aside.” @foxandfriends He was nowhere to be found in speaking up against the greatest Hoax in American history! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2020
After sending out the tweet about Bush, Trump proceeded to send out one adversarial and divisive post after another.
He deemed NBC and CNN “Chinese puppets who want to do business there” and “the enemy of the people.” He boasted about his approval ratings among Republicans and said that a new Gallup poll shows “Trump beating Sleepy Joe Biden.” (It does not.) He said there were “many complaints coming in” over Maine’s coronavirus response (despite the state government’s rising approval ratings) — and then added that he won the state. He also retweeted some of his old tweets, one in which he declared a video of a boat owner who painted Trump’s name onto his boat “very cool,” and another in which he falsely claims Democrats want “OPEN BORDERS.”
He capped off his spree with a tweet about America coming together as a nation — and it was an odd one, in which he described an America rising from the “death and destruction” caused by “a great and powerful Plague” that led to “lost souls all over the World:”
....And then came a Plague, a great and powerful Plague, and the World was never to be the same again! But America rose from this death and destruction, always remembering its many lost souls, and the lost souls all over the World, and became greater than ever before! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2020
Trump’s tone in the tweet, which didn’t seem to have any obvious contextual explanation, was roundly mocked on social media by his critics. “Camus wept,” quipped Charles Pierce, a politics writer for Esquire. Talking Points Memo founder Josh Marshall tweeted, “tfw you try to bible-speak on twitter.”
The tweet appeared to suggest the danger posed by the coronavirus had largely passed, given that it was all written in the past tense, but with its biblical language also seemed to place blame for the virus on some force greater than Trump himself, and one that he didn’t have control over.
While it is true that the coronavirus is believed to have come from nature, in reality, Trump has botched countless opportunities to fight against the virus. Among many other things, he downplayed its dangers, dismantled the bureaucratic expertise required to manage a pandemic, refused to swiftly take steps to provide Americans with protective gear and medical equipment, and conditioned aid to states on political favors.
These latest tweets have come during a period of heavy Twitter activity by the president. In general, Trump appears to tweet more when he feels under siege and wants to push back against particular narratives or Democratic attacks that undermine his reputation. Given that Trump is constantly under fire these days for his catastrophic mismanagement of the American coronavirus response, it’s not exactly surprising that he took to Twitter to unleash a wave of attacks.


vox--2020-05-03--US coronavirus data is at odds with Trump’s push to get the economy back up and running

On Sunday evening , Fox News is hosting an “ America Together : Returning to Work ” virtual town hall with President Donald Trump — capping off a weekend the president spent at Camp David to reportedly convene talks about reopening the economy ( and post a lot of tweets ) .
At the event , Trump is likely to continue working to convince Americans that the worst of the coronavirus pandemic is already in the rear-view mirror .
He has consistently done so , recently encouraging protesters agitating against stay-at-home orders , and saying last week , “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re doing , ” referring to governors moving to reopen businesses .
He ’ s declared “ we ’ re opening our country again ” and proclaimed the country will be ready for any second wave of coronavirus that might arise in the fall or winter .
But the US is not even close to being through the first wave .
Not a single state has met a key reopening criterion identified by the White House coronavirus task force : a steady 14-day decline in new cases .
In fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of the equation , the national trajectory of new daily coronavirus cases currently shows an upward trend : And with regard to the per-day trajectory of coronavirus-related deaths , the latest data shows that unlike almost all other comparable countries , the US death toll is plateaued at its highest point ( around 2,000 deaths a day ) , not declining .
Trump has his reasons for wanting states to get going again .
He faces a tough reelection fight and the positive economic message he planned to emphasize has , thanks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dire discussion about Great Depression-level unemployment rates and historic declines in quarterly GDP .
But he ’ s not alone in promoting plans to reopen .
More than half of the states are moving forward with plans to reopen some businesses .
Even though these moves are not consistent with federal reopening guidelines , the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force , Dr. Deborah Birx , basically offered a verbal shrug when asked about the disconnect during an appearance on the latest Fox News Sunday .
Later in the show , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Mississippi — who is moving to reopen some businesses even though new coronavirus cases haven ’ t been steadily declining in his state — bluntly said , “ We believe that that particular gating criteria just doesn ’ t work in states like ours.
” Other red states , like Georgia , seem to be manipulating statistics to create a misleading impression of a decline in cases .
The concern is that since stringent stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines haven ’ t been sufficient to bring the daily number of new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get worse as economic activity , and the person-to-person proximity it requires , resumes — especially since testing capacity isn ’ t yet where it needs to be to trace and contain outbreaks as they occur .
Trump , however , clearly wants to turn the page from the ongoing public health crisis to a story of economic revival .
The Washington Post reported Saturday the administration is planning to scale back media appearances by public health experts like Birx in favor of appearances from White House economic advisers .
“ The White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy , ” an unnamed senior administration who spoke with the Post said .
And that change in strategy has already been reflected on the presidential level : Hours ahead of the virtual town hall , Trump posted a tweet describing the coronavirus pandemic in biblical terms , and in the past tense .
But this , like so many aspects of Trump ’ s coronavirus response , is wishful thinking .
The death and destruction is ongoing , and pretending that it isn ’ t will likely make things worse .
Every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

On Sunday evening, Fox News is hosting an “America Together: Returning to Work” virtual town hall with President Donald Trump — capping off a weekend the president spent at Camp David to reportedly convene talks about reopening the economy (and post a lot of tweets).
At the event, Trump is likely to continue working to convince Americans that the worst of the coronavirus pandemic is already in the rearview mirror. He has consistently done so, recently encouraging protesters agitating against stay-at-home orders, and saying last week, “I am very much in favor of what they’re doing,” referring to governors moving to reopen businesses. He’s declared “we’re opening our country again” and proclaimed the country will be ready for any second wave of coronavirus that might arise in the fall or winter.
But the US is not even close to being through the first wave. Not a single state has met a key reopening criterion identified by the White House coronavirus task force: a steady 14-day decline in new cases.
In fact, when hardest-hit New York state is taken out of the equation, the national trajectory of new daily coronavirus cases currently shows an upward trend:
This is a very important graph for the debate about "reopening" the country. This is new cases per day nationwide excluding New York State. pic.twitter.com/VJFQ80unBT — Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) May 2, 2020
And with regard to the per-day trajectory of coronavirus-related deaths, the latest data shows that unlike almost all other comparable countries, the US death toll is plateaued at its highest point (around 2,000 deaths a day), not declining.
Here is the FT death graph — the US. Is plateauing, not falling pic.twitter.com/dPGlIzSuXx — Blake News (@blakehounshell) May 3, 2020
Trump has his reasons for wanting states to get going again. He faces a tough reelection fight and the positive economic message he planned to emphasize has, thanks to the coronavirus, turned into a dire discussion about Great Depression-level unemployment rates and historic declines in quarterly GDP. But he’s not alone in promoting plans to reopen. More than half of the states are moving forward with plans to reopen some businesses.
Even though these moves are not consistent with federal reopening guidelines, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, Dr. Deborah Birx, basically offered a verbal shrug when asked about the disconnect during an appearance on the latest Fox News Sunday.
WALLACE: More than half the states have started reopening, but not a single one has met the guidelines of 2 weeks of decline in new coronavirus cases. Are you worried?
BIRX: "Federal guidelines are pretty firm policy of what we think is important from a public health standpoint" pic.twitter.com/4O5lWQJZIE — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 3, 2020
Later in the show, Gov. Tate Reeves (R) of Mississippi — who is moving to reopen some businesses even though new coronavirus cases haven’t been steadily declining in his state — bluntly said, “We believe that that particular gating criteria just doesn’t work in states like ours.” Other red states, like Georgia, seem to be manipulating statistics to create a misleading impression of a decline in cases.
The concern is that since stringent stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines haven’t been sufficient to bring the daily number of new cases down yet, things will only get worse as economic activity, and the person-to-person proximity it requires, resumes — especially since testing capacity isn’t yet where it needs to be to trace and contain outbreaks as they occur.
Trump, however, clearly wants to turn the page from the ongoing public health crisis to a story of economic revival. The Washington Post reported Saturday the administration is planning to scale back media appearances by public health experts like Birx in favor of appearances from White House economic advisers.
“The White House apparatus is totally shifting to the economy,” an unnamed senior administration who spoke with the Post said. And that change in strategy has already been reflected on the presidential level: Hours ahead of the virtual town hall, Trump posted a tweet describing the coronavirus pandemic in biblical terms, and in the past tense.
....And then came a Plague, a great and powerful Plague, and the World was never to be the same again! But America rose from this death and destruction, always remembering its many lost souls, and the lost souls all over the World, and became greater than ever before! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2020
But this, like so many aspects of Trump’s coronavirus response, is wishful thinking. The death and destruction is ongoing, and pretending that it isn’t will likely make things worse.


vox--2020-05-03--The Asian giant hornet, a.k.a. the Murder Hornet, has arrived. Bees beware.

A giant , bee-killing insect dubbed the “ murder hornet ” is making inroads in the United States , threatening crops that depend on pollination , and humans who may get in its way .
The Asian giant hornet , Vespa mandarinia , is native to places like Japan , South Korea , and Taiwan , but was detected in Washington state late last year .
Canadian officials also found the hornet in British Columbia in August .
The menacing orange-and-black hornets have workers that can grow an inch and a half long and queens that get up to two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ painful sting that can be fatal to humans — if they are allergic — and unlike most bees , hornets can sting more than once .
Despite their name , however , people have little to fear from them : The British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture said that they “ are not interested in humans , pets and large animals.
” Instead , the main concern is what these hornets do to honeybees .
With its spiked , dagger-like mandibles , an Asian giant hornet can decapitate 40 honeybees per minute .
Within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hornets can purge a beehive .
This voracious appetite for a critical pollinator poses a threat to key crops in the Pacific Northwest , where commercial beekeepers often rent their hives out to farmers growing crops like blueberries and raspberries .
The Washington State Department of Agriculture is now asking the public to report any findings of the hornet to keep track of its spread .
It ’ s not clear how the hornets crossed the Pacific Ocean , but experts think they may have stowed away on a container ship or may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in homemade purported performance enhancers .
The arrival of the murder hornet is just the latest woe for bees in the United States Bees support about $ 20 billion worth of US agriculture each year , but are facing population declines around the world .
Since 2006 , US beekeepers have lost nearly a third of their colonies each year .
Bees are under pressure from pesticides , habitat loss , disease , and invasive species like the Asian giant hornet .
Several of these factors are likely at play in the rise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave bee colonies with no adult bees aside from the queen .
In Asia , bees do have a defense mechanism against the Asian giant hornet , however .
They can swarm a scout hornet in the hive , forming a ball around the invader .
Then the bees vibrate , causing the hornet to heat up , while carbon dioxide builds up inside the ball .
The scout suffocates and dies , preventing it from relaying the coordinates of the hive to the rest of its swarm .
But it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know how to deploy this technique since the hornet is a new threat .
And with all the stresses bees already face , hives can only hold out for so long .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

A giant, bee-killing insect dubbed the “murder hornet” is making inroads in the United States, threatening crops that depend on pollination, and humans who may get in its way.
The Asian giant hornet, Vespa mandarinia, is native to places like Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, but was detected in Washington state late last year. Canadian officials also found the hornet in British Columbia in August.
The menacing orange-and-black hornets have workers that can grow an inch and a half long and queens that get up to two inches in length. They have a painful sting that can be fatal to humans — if they are allergic — and unlike most bees, hornets can sting more than once. Despite their name, however, people have little to fear from them: The British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture said that they “are not interested in humans, pets and large animals.”
Instead, the main concern is what these hornets do to honeybees. With its spiked, dagger-like mandibles, an Asian giant hornet can decapitate 40 honeybees per minute. Within hours, a swarm of these invasive hornets can purge a beehive.
This voracious appetite for a critical pollinator poses a threat to key crops in the Pacific Northwest, where commercial beekeepers often rent their hives out to farmers growing crops like blueberries and raspberries.
The Washington State Department of Agriculture is now asking the public to report any findings of the hornet to keep track of its spread. It’s not clear how the hornets crossed the Pacific Ocean, but experts think they may have stowed away on a container ship or may have been deliberately imported as an ingredient in homemade purported performance enhancers.
The arrival of the murder hornet is just the latest woe for bees in the United States
Bees support about $20 billion worth of US agriculture each year, but are facing population declines around the world. Since 2006, US beekeepers have lost nearly a third of their colonies each year. One factor behind this was colony collapse disorder, which can leave bee colonies with no adult bees aside from the queen. This condition has been declining in the US since 2010, but bees are still under pressure from pesticides, habitat loss, disease, and invasive species like the Asian giant hornet.
In Asia, bees do have a defense mechanism against the Asian giant hornet, however. They can swarm a scout hornet in the hive, forming a ball around the invader. Then the bees vibrate, causing the hornet to heat up, while carbon dioxide builds up inside the ball. The scout suffocates and dies, preventing it from relaying the coordinates of the hive to the rest of its swarm.
But it’s not clear whether bees in North America know how to deploy this technique since the hornet is a new threat. And with all the stresses bees already face, hives can only hold out for so long.


vox--2020-05-03--North Korea and South Korea exchange gunfire across the DMZ for the first time since 2017

North Korea and South Korea exchanged gunfire on Sunday across the Demilitarized Zone ( DMZ ) , the heavily guarded border between the two countries , for the first time since 2017 .
There were no reports of injuries having emerged from the back-and-forth .
According to South Korea ’ s Yonhap News Agency , North Korea fired first — it ’ s unclear what prompted those shots , but US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday on ABC ’ s This Week that “ we think those are accidental.
” A South Korean defense official told the Associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shots were likely not a calculated decision .
South Korea ’ s military reported that gun shots from North Korea struck a South Korean guard post in the central border town of Cheorwon on Sunday morning .
South Korea fired back with 20 warning shots , and then sent a warning broadcast , according to the South Korean military .
South Korean officials believe the chance of casualties in the North is unlikely , since the warning shots were fired into uninhabited territory .
South Korea ’ s military personnel are unharmed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not responded yet to South Korea ’ s warning message about trying to avoid escalation .
So far , however , there are no signs of unusual troop movement in the North .
The gunfire exchange comes just days after North Korea ’ s leader , Kim Jong Un , appeared publicly for the first time in his country in 21 days — a notable absence from the public eye that stirred rumors that he was ill or perhaps even dead .
And as Vox ’ s Alex Ward explained on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was missing : During this latest disappearance , there were unconfirmed reports that he ’ d undergone heart surgery and was recuperating — and perhaps that he was gravely ill due to complications from the surgery .
But it ’ s going to be near impossible to confirm that information , as Kim ’ s health is one of the most jealously guarded secrets in the country .
Instead , Kim almost surely wants to change the subject , and showing up at a fertilizer plant as if nothing happened is one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the activity at the border is at all related to this reappearance is not clear , but again , US and South Korean intelligence seems to suggest the gunfire was not a calculated move , particularly given that there haven ’ t been many exchanges at the DMZ — and no deadly ones — in recent years .
The last time gunfire broke out along the border , in 2017 , was when North Korea shot at a defector fleeing to the South , who survived .
Every day at Vox , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

North Korea and South Korea exchanged gunfire on Sunday across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the heavily guarded border between the two countries, for the first time since 2017. There were no reports of injuries having emerged from the back-and-forth.
According to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, North Korea fired first — it’s unclear what prompted those shots, but US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday on ABC’s This Week that “we think those are accidental.” A South Korean defense official told the Associated Press that the country also believes the shots were likely not a calculated decision.
South Korea’s military reported that gun shots from North Korea struck a South Korean guard post in the central border town of Cheorwon on Sunday morning. South Korea fired back with 20 warning shots, and then sent a warning broadcast, according to the South Korean military.
South Korean officials believe the chance of casualties in the North is unlikely, since the warning shots were fired into uninhabited territory. South Korea’s military personnel are unharmed.
The AP also reports that North Korea has not responded yet to South Korea’s warning message about trying to avoid escalation. So far, however, there are no signs of unusual troop movement in the North.
The gunfire exchange comes just days after North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, appeared publicly for the first time in his country in 21 days — a notable absence from the public eye that stirred rumors that he was ill or perhaps even dead. And as Vox’s Alex Ward explained on Friday, it may never be clear why he was missing:
During this latest disappearance, there were unconfirmed reports that he’d undergone heart surgery and was recuperating — and perhaps that he was gravely ill due to complications from the surgery. But it’s going to be near impossible to confirm that information, as Kim’s health is one of the most jealously guarded secrets in the country. Instead, Kim almost surely wants to change the subject, and showing up at a fertilizer plant as if nothing happened is one way to do just that.
Whether the activity at the border is at all related to this reappearance is not clear, but again, US and South Korean intelligence seems to suggest the gunfire was not a calculated move, particularly given that there haven’t been many exchanges at the DMZ — and no deadly ones — in recent years. The last time gunfire broke out along the border, in 2017, was when North Korea shot at a defector fleeing to the South, who survived.


vox--2020-05-03--South Korea has brought new coronavirus cases under control. It’s taking steps to reopen public life

South Korea has brought new coronavirus cases under control. It’s taking steps to reopen public life.

South Korea will take new steps to relax social distancing on May 6 , in yet another sign that the country that once had one of the worst outbreaks of coronavirus outside China has managed to bring its transmission under control .
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said in a televised meeting Sunday that the government “ will allow businesses to resume at facilities in phases that had remained closed up until now , and also allow gatherings and events to take place assuming they follow disinfection guidelines.
” Under what Chung referred to as the “ everyday life quarantine scheme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , museums , and libraries are expected to reopen in phases , according to Reuters and the Korea Herald .
The government ’ s guidelines will continue to recommend that people stay home for three to four days if they feel sick , wash their hands frequently , and keep an arms-length distance from other people in public , however .
And professional baseball and soccer matches are expected to start up again this week , although without in-person audiences .
The rate of new infections in the country has slowed dramatically in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Korea was seeing more than 900 new cases of coronavirus a day .
By mid-April , that number hit as low as eight new reported cases in a day , and in the past week there have been around 10 new reported cases a day .
Overall the country has reported around 10,800 cases and 250 deaths .
The reduction of new cases in South Korea is a striking achievement for a country that earlier this year had the largest number of confirmed cases in Asia outside China .
On February 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parishioner of a megachurch in the southern city of Daegu infected other congregants during services , but the government ’ s aggressive testing and contact-tracing regime seems to have played a significant role in counteracting that rapid spike in cases quickly .
The government said it would begin to relax quarantine rules if new reported cases stayed below 50 a day — a condition that has been met for the past 25 days , according to the Korea Herald .
South Korea has been approaching coronavirus differently than many countries South Korea ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate has caught the eye of governments and public health officials around the world .
Experts say there are a number of measures it ’ s taken to achieve its results , including building a highly organized and massive testing capacity , and the government ’ s institution of tracing and isolation measures for people who have been in contact with the infected .
Notably , South Korea has generally avoided the wide-scale shutdowns that China and the US have pursued , according to Business Insider .
It has shut down schools and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the government has sought primarily to isolate groups of people who are suspected to have been exposed — and it has done so in a highly targeted fashion .
The New York Times ’ Max Fisher and Choe Sang-Hun wrote a thorough explainer in late March about what makes the South Korean model effective .
Among other things , they highlight that the government organized mass production of coronavirus test kits earlier than many other hard-hit countries , which meant in late March the country had a per-capita test rate “ more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States.
” They also point to an astonishingly extensive surveillance and contact-tracing infrastructure : South Koreans ’ cellphones vibrate with emergency alerts whenever new cases are discovered in their districts .
Websites and smartphone apps detail hour-by-hour , sometimes minute-by-minute , timelines of infected people ’ s travel — which buses they took , when and where they got on and off , even whether they were wearing masks .
People who believe they may have crossed paths with a patient are urged to report to testing centers .
South Koreans have broadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessary trade-off .
People ordered into self-quarantine must download another app , which alerts officials if a patient ventures out of isolation .
Fines for violations can reach $ 2,500 .
The government has also taken measures to try to comfort people in the chaos by doing things like sending comfort packages with food and cleaning supplies to people who are under quarantine .
Approval of the government ’ s response to the pandemic was so widespread that the country saw its largest turnout in nearly three decades during national elections held last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reelection by a landslide .
Notably , there was no uptick in infections in the election ’ s aftermath , likely thanks to strict social distancing , testing , and disinfecting measures put in place at polling sites .
South Korea ’ s management of the spread of the virus does not mean it ’ s out of the woods .
Places like Hong Kong and Singapore have seen resurgences of cases , in part due to people entering the country from abroad .
But South Korea does seem to have some effective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place to manage the spread for now .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

South Korea will take new steps to relax social distancing on May 6, in yet another sign that the country that once had one of the worst outbreaks of coronavirus outside China has managed to bring its transmission under control.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said in a televised meeting Sunday that the government “will allow businesses to resume at facilities in phases that had remained closed up until now, and also allow gatherings and events to take place assuming they follow disinfection guidelines.”
Under what Chung referred to as the “everyday life quarantine scheme,” facilities like schools, parks, museums, and libraries are expected to reopen in phases, according to Reuters and the Korea Herald. The government’s guidelines will continue to recommend that people stay home for three to four days if they feel sick, wash their hands frequently, and keep an arms-length distance from other people in public, however.
And professional baseball and soccer matches are expected to start up again this week, although without in-person audiences.
The rate of new infections in the country has slowed dramatically in recent weeks. In late February, South Korea was seeing more than 900 new cases of coronavirus a day. By mid-April, that number hit as low as eight new reported cases in a day, and in the past week there have been around 10 new reported cases a day. Overall the country has reported around 10,800 cases and 250 deaths.
The reduction of new cases in South Korea is a striking achievement for a country that earlier this year had the largest number of confirmed cases in Asia outside China. On February 20, confirmed infections skyrocketed exponentially after a parishioner of a megachurch in the southern city of Daegu infected other congregants during services, but the government’s aggressive testing and contact-tracing regime seems to have played a significant role in quickly counteracting that rapid spike in cases.
The government said it would begin to relax quarantine rules if new reported cases stayed below 50 a day — a condition that has been met for the past 25 days, according to the Korea Herald.
South Korea has been approaching the coronavirus differently than many countries
South Korea’s rapid reduction of its new infection rate has caught the eye of governments and public health officials around the world.
Experts say there are a number of measures it’s taken to achieve its results, including building a highly organized and massive testing capacity, and the government’s institution of tracing and isolation measures for people who have been in contact with the infected.
Notably, South Korea has generally avoided the wide-scale shutdowns that China and the US have pursued, according to Business Insider. It has shut down schools and imposed a curfew in some cities, but the government has sought primarily to isolate groups of people who are suspected to have been exposed — and it has done so in a highly targeted fashion.
The New York Times’s Max Fisher and Choe Sang-Hun wrote a thorough explainer in late March about what makes the South Korean model effective. Among other things, they highlight that the government organized mass production of coronavirus test kits earlier than many other hard-hit countries, which meant in late March the country had a per-capita test rate “more than 40 times that of the United States.”
They also point to an astonishingly extensive surveillance and contact-tracing infrastructure:
South Koreans’ cellphones vibrate with emergency alerts whenever new cases are discovered in their districts. Websites and smartphone apps detail hour-by-hour, sometimes minute-by-minute, timelines of infected people’s travel — which buses they took, when and where they got on and off, even whether they were wearing masks. People who believe they may have crossed paths with a patient are urged to report to testing centers. South Koreans have broadly accepted the loss of privacy as a necessary trade-off. People ordered into self-quarantine must download another app, which alerts officials if a patient ventures out of isolation. Fines for violations can reach $2,500.
The government has also taken measures to try to comfort people in the chaos by doing things like sending comfort packages with food and cleaning supplies to people who are under quarantine.
Approval of the government’s response to the pandemic was so widespread that the country saw its largest turnout in nearly three decades during national elections held last month, and the ruling party won reelection by a landslide. Notably, there was no uptick in infections in the election’s aftermath, likely thanks to strict social distancing, testing, and disinfecting measures put in place at polling sites.
South Korea’s management of the spread of the virus does not mean it’s out of the woods. Places like Hong Kong and Singapore have seen resurgences of cases, in part due to people entering the country from abroad. But South Korea does seem to have some effective tools — and a plan — in place to manage the spread for now.


vox--2020-05-04--The buying and selling of “fuck”

The buying and selling of “fuck”

If you look around — and you don ’ t have to look very hard — you might have seen that there are a lot of items that now have the word “ fuck ” printed on them .
These aren ’ t exotic or unusual things : socks , pencils , shirts , keychains , desk calendars , books , earrings .
Even bars of soap , which might be handy for washing your mouth out after use .
I started to notice this commercial drift a few years ago when someone gave me a cup with a cartoony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Don ’ t Give a Fuck.
” Not that that ’ s not true , but it is rather blunt .
The cup seemed to be a clever novelty item , and its cheery presentation nothing taboo .
This was not long after I ’ d heard Samuel Jackson recite the text of the popular Adam Mansbach book Go the F**k to Sleep , to give modern parents some solace .
There was something a bit daring in hearing Jackson shout the expletives in an alleged bedtime book , but , to me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late last year , I read Mark Manson ’ s The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck , and checked to see what else he ’ d done , only to find his newest , Everything Is F*cked .
It wasn ’ t until I received a set of 10 pencils as a Christmas gift — pencils labeled with phrases like “ Fuck-a-doodle-doo ” on them — that it seemed the product-profanity engine had reached fourth gear .
Those pencils ( box-labeled “ Fucking Brilliant : 10 Pencils for Writing Shit Down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Books , a San Francisco–based publisher of books and gift items .
Chronicle ’ s Calligraphuck line has a high percentage of fucks ( and shits ) among its varied product roster .
Kim Romero , senior editor at Chronicle , told me , “ Calligraphuck uses profanity in an uplifting way , putting emphasis on positive messages and sentiments .
Much of the appeal lies in the humor and surprise of seeing profanity rendered in lovely gold calligraphy .
It ’ s an irresistible combination of irreverence and elegance.
” Chronicle doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carrying products with a naughty message .
“ We ’ re always interested in offering our consumers something new .
In this case : brilliant swear words with a twist , not just vulgarity , ” says Christina Amini , executive publishing director of adult books and gift products at Chronicle .
“ Believe it or not , we spend a lot of time talking about which expletives are just right for this line .
You can ’ t please everyone all the time , especially when you offer something with a strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ flask .
So we know that it won ’ t work for all retailers , but for the people who love this , they are all in , ” she says .
Mitch Nash , the co-founder of Blue Q , which sells many products that have swears on them , demurs on the shock value of such statements .
“ It ’ s not gratuitous .
We don ’ t go , ‘ Let ’ s say “ fuck ” on an item , it will sell.
’ We ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where it serves as an amplifier , ” he says .
“ This is the way people talk .
So it ’ s just honesty and communication , and not being uptight about how language is used.
” “ Fuck ” seems to be the expression that packs the most branding oomph .
Among some of the book titles I scanned : Calm the F*ck Down , Unf*ck Yourself , Bucky F*cking Dent , and Zen As F*ck .
Faith Harper , the author of Unfuck Your Brain , also wrote Unfuck Your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( That made me wonder if the Calm the F*ck Down author has sanctioned , say , these “ calm the fuck down ” whiskey glasses , but in a brief dig into copyright law , I found this on the Stanford University Libraries site : Considering that the f-word had its Germanic origins as early as the 15th century and is cited by other etymologists as being of an even earlier Indo-European coinage , it ’ s dubious that any wrangling over such short phrasings could be the basis for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fuck ” belongs to us all .
“ Fuck ” is a perennial favorite , but that doesn ’ t mean it doesn ’ t have curse competitors .
The pencil from Chronicle I used to write some notes for this piece is labeled “ Write That Shit Down.
” Another proclaims , “ Take Note , Bitches.
” From a brief perusal of a few other gift sites : • You can buy a nice vinyl sticker that says “ You Are a Goddamn Magical Unicorn ” • That sticker could go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Get Shit Done ” • Pulling a pie out of the oven must be even sweeter when you use an oven mitt that says “ I love my a**hole kids ” • There must be many occasions to tilt back a wine glass that proclaims , “ I ’ m one glass away from bringing up a bunch of shit from three years ago ” As Amini says , “ We vary the specific profanity we use in the titles .
Not all of the products in this line have ‘ fuck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there ’ s the ‘ Getting Shit Done List Ledger , ’ the ‘ None of Your Damn Business Notebook Collection , ’ and the ‘ Fabulous Bitch Keychain.
’ How many fucks can someone give ?
Maybe there ’ s a limited number !
” Whatever those variants , an item that seemed to summarize the entire product generation is the wrapping paper in an elegant black and white I saw at Steel Petal Press that simply repeated “ fuck ” at right angles .
You might be intrigued , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asterisks in some of these to soften the language , or maybe to broaden the buyer demographic — or perhaps to be a bit cute ?
“ F*ck ” seems to be the favorite asterisked rendering , but for most of the products I viewed , manufacturers spelled it out .
Does putting in the asterisks actually protect anyone from the force of the language ?
Your brain immediately fills in the missing letter , but that doesn ’ t make you feel any smarter or more adult or more in on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heyday peddling the profane , but what does that suggest for consumer perceptions ?
I spoke with Dr. Nicole Coleman , an associate professor of marketing at the University of Pittsburgh ’ s Katz Graduate School of Business and an expert on how consumers make decisions , especially ones that are related to their emotions .
“ It ’ s definitely still counternormative to see these words on actual products — in many parts of the country , it ’ s even counternormative to say four-letter words , ” she says .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around this language , however ; it ’ s much more common to see younger consumers with these items than older generations.
” Coleman does think the continued and visible use of “ banned ” language on commercial products over time could break down barriers to negative reactions .
“ Language is a living entity , and it ’ s constantly changing to accommodate new trends and usage instances , ” she says .
“ The growth of a word/word use comes out of a smaller group of individuals , and then becomes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ‘ forbidden ’ language , what we ’ ll likely see is a softening of the response to such choice words as they become more commonly used.
” Retailers of these products know that there are audience limits .
“ Chronicle endeavors to create books , gifts , and stationery that will surprise , inspire , and delight , and we realize that what may delight some people may not necessarily delight everyone , ” says Romero .
The New York Times had an intriguing piece on the benefits of swearing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporary pain ( the hammer-on-thumb reaction ) , as well as working as an emotional release .
There was also exploration into whether an unbridled curser gave a stronger expression of authenticity or honesty .
When I asked Mitch Nash of Blue Q why he thought people liked things that had naughty or suggestive language , he had a quick correlative answer : “ Their honesty , ” he says .
“ People are drawn to something that is breaking the rules , and it ’ s going against the grain to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
You ’ re maybe not supposed to be doing that , but we ’ re simply talking the way we talk.
” Coleman reinforces that angle from the “ benign violations ” psychological perspective : “ The idea with benign violations is that there are certain experiences and actions that people engage in that are kind of aversive , but also safe , ” she says .
“ Think about riding a roller coaster , watching a gory horror flick , eating super-spicy food — all of these types of behaviors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really exciting .
“ Swear words and taboo language fall into this category .
Let ’ s be real : saying ‘ fuck ’ doesn ’ t hurt anyone , it ’ s just another word .
But it ’ s a ‘ bad ’ word , so there ’ s this thrill that goes along with using it.
” Sure , some folks might think a soap label that has “ shit ” written on it is nasty , but there are many who think otherwise .
And the cursing-with-charm product might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ Fads come and go , but profanity and humor are evergreen .
It ’ s just about figuring out the appropriate time and place for it.
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Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
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If you look around — and you don’t have to look very hard — you might have seen that there are a lot of items that now have the word “fuck” printed on them. These aren’t exotic or unusual things: socks, pencils, shirts, keychains, desk calendars, books, earrings. Even bars of soap, which might be handy for washing your mouth out after use.
I started to notice this commercial drift a few years ago when someone gave me a cup with a cartoony cat image and the statement “Cats Don’t Give a Fuck.” Not that that’s not true, but it is rather blunt. The cup seemed to be a clever novelty item, and its cheery presentation nothing taboo.
This was not long after I’d heard Samuel Jackson recite the text of the popular Adam Mansbach book Go the F**k to Sleep, to give modern parents some solace. There was something a bit daring in hearing Jackson shout the expletives in an alleged bedtime book, but, to me, more hilarious than blasphemous. And late last year, I read Mark Manson’s The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, and checked to see what else he’d done, only to find his newest, Everything Is F*cked. It wasn’t until I received a set of 10 pencils as a Christmas gift — pencils labeled with phrases like “Fuck-a-doodle-doo” on them — that it seemed the product-profanity engine had reached fourth gear.
Those pencils (box-labeled “Fucking Brilliant: 10 Pencils for Writing Shit Down”) are the product of Chronicle Books, a San Francisco–based publisher of books and gift items. Chronicle’s Calligraphuck line has a high percentage of fucks (and shits) among its varied product roster. Kim Romero, senior editor at Chronicle, told me, “Calligraphuck uses profanity in an uplifting way, putting emphasis on positive messages and sentiments. Much of the appeal lies in the humor and surprise of seeing profanity rendered in lovely gold calligraphy. It’s an irresistible combination of irreverence and elegance.”
Chronicle doesn’t see a commercial risk in carrying products with a naughty message. “We’re always interested in offering our consumers something new. In this case: brilliant swear words with a twist, not just vulgarity,” says Christina Amini, executive publishing director of adult books and gift products at Chronicle. “Believe it or not, we spend a lot of time talking about which expletives are just right for this line. You can’t please everyone all the time, especially when you offer something with a strong flavor like our ‘Classy as Fuck’ flask. So we know that it won’t work for all retailers, but for the people who love this, they are all in,” she says.
Mitch Nash, the co-founder of Blue Q, which sells many products that have swears on them, demurs on the shock value of such statements. “It’s not gratuitous. We don’t go, ‘Let’s say “fuck” on an item, it will sell.’ We’re first and foremost trying to say something where it serves as an amplifier,” he says. “This is the way people talk. So it’s just honesty and communication, and not being uptight about how language is used.”
“Fuck” seems to be the expression that packs the most branding oomph. Among some of the book titles I scanned: Calm the F*ck Down, Unf*ck Yourself, Bucky F*cking Dent, and Zen As F*ck. Faith Harper, the author of Unfuck Your Brain, also wrote Unfuck Your Boundaries, which has an accompanying workbook.
(That made me wonder if the Calm the F*ck Down author has sanctioned, say, these “calm the fuck down” whiskey glasses, but in a brief dig into copyright law, I found this on the Stanford University Libraries site:
Copyright laws disfavor protection for short phrases. Such claims are viewed with suspicion by the Copyright Office, whose circulars state that, “… slogans, and other short phrases or expressions cannot be copyrighted.”
Considering that the f-word had its Germanic origins as early as the 15th century and is cited by other etymologists as being of an even earlier Indo-European coinage, it’s dubious that any wrangling over such short phrasings could be the basis for a legal battle. In short, “fuck” belongs to us all.
“Fuck” is a perennial favorite, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have curse competitors. The pencil from Chronicle I used to write some notes for this piece is labeled “Write That Shit Down.” Another proclaims, “Take Note, Bitches.”
From a brief perusal of a few other gift sites:
As Amini says, “We vary the specific profanity we use in the titles. Not all of the products in this line have ‘fuck’ in the title. For example, there’s the ‘Getting Shit Done List Ledger,’ the ‘None of Your Damn Business Notebook Collection,’ and the ‘Fabulous Bitch Keychain.’ How many fucks can someone give? Maybe there’s a limited number!”
Whatever those variants, an item that seemed to summarize the entire product generation is the wrapping paper in an elegant black and white I saw at Steel Petal Press that simply repeated “fuck” at right angles.
You might be intrigued, as I was, by the use of asterisks in some of these to soften the language, or maybe to broaden the buyer demographic — or perhaps to be a bit cute? “F*ck” seems to be the favorite asterisked rendering, but for most of the products I viewed, manufacturers spelled it out. Does putting in the asterisks actually protect anyone from the force of the language? Your brain immediately fills in the missing letter, but that doesn’t make you feel any smarter or more adult or more in on the joke.
Some companies are having a heyday peddling the profane, but what does that suggest for consumer perceptions? I spoke with Dr. Nicole Coleman, an associate professor of marketing at the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate School of Business and an expert on how consumers make decisions, especially ones that are related to their emotions.
“It’s definitely still counternormative to see these words on actual products — in many parts of the country, it’s even counternormative to say four-letter words,” she says. “There is absolutely a generational shift happening around this language, however; it’s much more common to see younger consumers with these items than older generations.”
Coleman does think the continued and visible use of “banned” language on commercial products over time could break down barriers to negative reactions. “Language is a living entity, and it’s constantly changing to accommodate new trends and usage instances,” she says. “The growth of a word/word use comes out of a smaller group of individuals, and then becomes more widely accepted. In the case of ‘forbidden’ language, what we’ll likely see is a softening of the response to such choice words as they become more commonly used.”
Retailers of these products know that there are audience limits. “Chronicle endeavors to create books, gifts, and stationery that will surprise, inspire, and delight, and we realize that what may delight some people may not necessarily delight everyone,” says Romero.
The New York Times had an intriguing piece on the benefits of swearing, positing that cursing provides bodily release from temporary pain (the hammer-on-thumb reaction), as well as working as an emotional release. There was also exploration into whether an unbridled curser gave a stronger expression of authenticity or honesty.
When I asked Mitch Nash of Blue Q why he thought people liked things that had naughty or suggestive language, he had a quick correlative answer: “Their honesty,” he says. “People are drawn to something that is breaking the rules, and it’s going against the grain to be mass publishing products with these words on them. You’re maybe not supposed to be doing that, but we’re simply talking the way we talk.”
Coleman reinforces that angle from the “benign violations” psychological perspective: “The idea with benign violations is that there are certain experiences and actions that people engage in that are kind of aversive, but also safe,” she says. “Think about riding a roller coaster, watching a gory horror flick, eating super-spicy food — all of these types of behaviors are kind of awful, but also really exciting.
“Swear words and taboo language fall into this category. Let’s be real: saying ‘fuck’ doesn’t hurt anyone, it’s just another word. But it’s a ‘bad’ word, so there’s this thrill that goes along with using it.”
Sure, some folks might think a soap label that has “shit” written on it is nasty, but there are many who think otherwise. And the cursing-with-charm product might have staying power. As Amini says, “Fads come and go, but profanity and humor are evergreen. It’s just about figuring out the appropriate time and place for it.”