THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

“The capacity to blunder slightly is the real marvel of DNA. Without this special attribute, we would still be anaerobic bacteria and there would be no music.”

— Lewis Thomas

BIRTHDAYS:

1814 Julius Robert von Mayer, German physician and physicist (first law of thermodynamics).

1835 Andrew Carnegie, Scottish-born American industrialist and philanthropist who built one of the world’s largest steel empires and then distributed most of his fortune to public institutions and causes.

1856 Sergei Taneyev, Russian pianist and composer. Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 30 (46:15)

1913 Lewis Thomas, American physician, researcher, medical educator, and essayist noted for his accessible explorations of biology, immunology, and the intersections of science with human experience.

1926 Poul Anderson, American science fiction and fantasy author renowned for his prolific career spanning over five decades, during which he produced approximately 85 novels and hundreds of short stories, often incorporating rigorous scientific concepts and libertarian themes (and winner of 7 Hugo and 3 Nebula Awards)

MISCELLANEOUS:

FASTER, PLEASE. Eye implant, high-tech glasses could help restore lost vision

IN THE FUTURE, BEFORE LOCKING THINGS DOWN AGAIN (INCLUDING FREE SPEECH AND THE FREEDOM TO ASSEMBLE), THE AUTHORITIES MIGHT WANT TO REACQUAINT THEMSELVES WITH THE FOLLOWING:

Nuremberg Code

Disease Mitigation Measures in the Control of Pandemic Influenza

Great Barrington declaration