Author: Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Patient readers, by January 3, 2022 (probably a better year), I will take a break and run an abbreviated water cooler. Please consider this as an open thread and talk between you. ——Lambert

Today’s Bird Song

A black bird, or “songbird”, or (initially)”Curry bird. “

Here are a few Covid charts. Number of cases in the U.S.:

It’s jaw-dropping. stunned. It’s surprising. touching. The black “Fauci line” of the anti-victorians seems irrelevant. As far as the case is concerned, we are in uncharted territory. (It is worth noting that the number of cases may be underestimated. Home tests are not counted, and not everyone can go for the test.)

Not updated here is CDC fast-rising counties As of December 23, 2021:

Thanks for the sharp eyes of the astute reader Chris from Georgia, I have effectively dotted the major cities of the same fast-growing counties-blue (plus Denver and Nashville). It seems that some kind of internal enemy is happening in those blue cities… (Chicago is not red, but pink, so there is no point.)

yesterday:

It looks worse today, especially in the lower Mississippi.

Christmas (1):

“mild!”

Christmas (2):

Exquisite handwritten newspaper!

Plant contact information: Readers, please feel free to contact me via lambert [UNDERSCORE] Bondage [DOT] current [AT] Yahoo [DOT] com to (a) learn how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal, and (b) learn how to send me plant images. Vegetables are no problem! Fungi and corals are regarded as honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, put it in parentheses at the beginning of the message: (so). Otherwise, I will use your initials for anonymization. See the previous water cooler (with plants) here. Today’s plant (Re Silc):

Re Silc wrote: “Ewha. Never before December. Chapel Hill, North Carolina.”

reader: Water Cooler is an independent entity no Covers the recently concluded sums-thank you! — Successful annual NC fundraising event. Therefore, if you see a link that you particularly like, or an item that you can’t see anywhere else, please don’t hesitate to express your gratitude in a tangible form. Remember, the tip jar is for tipping! Regular positive feedback not only makes me feel good, but also lets me know that I am on the right track of reporting. When I have not received donations for five or ten days, I will be very worried. More obviously, continuous donations help me pay for my expenses. I took this into consideration when setting fundraising goals: