‘Over the past month, about 1.9 million Americans have tested positive for the virus. That’s more than five times as many as in all of Europe, Canada, Japan, South Korea and Australia, combined.’

A lengthy full look at the virus in our country. A front page story in The New York Times by David Leonhardt. The best overall look at it I’ve read. If you were a teacher you’d have your students read it. Which is why kids need teachers, and why we need The New York Times and the other good daily newspapers. Here’s the link:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/06/us/coronavirus-us.html?referringSource=articleShare

In today’s New York Times a story about the schools in Kenya deciding to stay closed. It’s a look at something beyond our shores which is stimulating and expansive and liberating to do right now. Things there seem so essential. The link is here. I’ve started getting the daily Times delivered again after a few months of reading only online. Reading a newspaper online is a hurried activity like flipping through vinyl albums in a used record store. There’s a franticness to that racing that once you get back to reading the real paper you don’t want anymore. 
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/05/world/africa/Kenya-cancels-school-year-coronavirus.html?referringSource=articleShare

‘The truly great Pete Hamill died this morning,’ tweeted Dan Barry, columnist at The New York Times. ‘Newspaperman, novelist, mentor to so many, citizen of the world. I once wrote that if the pavement of New York City could talk, it would sound like Pete Hamill. Now that city weeps.’ Here’s what Hamill’s paper The Daily News said:
https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-writer-pete-hamill-dead-at-85-20200805-4wowyopsrnazznqbbj5ze25ibi-story.html

Jane Brody has written her ‘Personal Health’ column in the New York Times since 1976. It’s a gift to all of us. This week’s column seems especially valuable. Here it is:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/03/well/family/the-benefits-of-talking-to-strangers.html?referringSource=articleShare

LA rapper NONAME has started a book club. ‘Since its founding in August 2019, Noname’s book club has grown to nearly 10,000 Patreon subscribers, who pay at least $1 a month for membership. Others follow her book recommendations on Twitter and support the club by buying merchandise.’ Here what the ‘Times’ wrote about it today:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/29/style/self-care/black-book-clubs.html?referringSource=articleShare