My Plague Year, a21

Got a problem that needs solving? Call the problem solvers.

Dead Bodies Everywhere

The song was actually written about the Bhopal gas release disaster. But it seems to particularly resonate for some reason this year. Perhaps Al Jourgensen has pre-cog abilities. Of course the actual song i'm referring to is called Union Carbide. We'll leave it to the gentle reader to figure out why. Do you prefer the club mix or the more brutal version on Big Sexy Land.

Don't Cough

From today's New York Times. "A month ago, a cough was just a cough. Now, in the anxious era of coronavirus, a cough can be a crime.

Coughing that is directed at others is increasingly being treated as a type of assault in Europe and the United States. And in some cases, like when health workers or emergency medical workers are targeted, it can now be classified in some places as an act of terrorism."

My Plague Year, a20

The year of the clown.

Pretty straightforward paint synthesizer photo mosaic effect. Worked with a little source attribute modulated interactive warp. Frame partition selection border effect to finish up.

Boom time for gun retailers

Reports show an unprecedented surge in gun sales over the past few weeks. Yes, i do like my AM and PM respective slogs. Thanks to The Stranger for continuing their reporting after massive staff cuts.

Anosmia

The team suspected that nerve cells responsible for smell may be damaged by the virus and so went looking through datasets to see if the cells contained ACE2 and one other protein that helps SARS-CoV-2 get inside cells. This is where the surprise came.

The datasets suggest its not nerve cells that SARS-CoV-2 enters, but a different subset of "epithelial" cells -- the cells on the surfaces inside your nose.  Whether or not COVID-19 can cause a permanent loss of smell is still to be determined. Imagine a world without smell.

My Plague Year, a19

Open wide, please.