WaPo coverage of C19 apps

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/11/18/coronavirus-app-exposure-alerts/

This is specifically the stuff that Apple and Google have enabled underlying support for, but which states have to each develop apps for. Massachusetts has not rolled one out and is not on the article’s list of states which have announced plans to do so. Boooooo Massachusetts.

“I’m usually the first person to caution that we shouldn’t trust corporations or the government with our sensitive personal data. But after investigating the data flowing out of these state-sponsored apps and services, I haven’t found much danger in having them on my phone.”

When I first heard about this, I was like, yes! Do this now!

And then when I got the update on iOS that supported it, I went in there pronto and tried to turn stuff on. And then I went looking for a Massachusetts app. Crickets.

Months later, still, crickets. Boooooo Massachusetts.

I know y’all — like, _everyone_ is way more freaked out about privacy concerns than I am (you have to understand: I grew up a JW, so I had zero privacy expectations. I figured out how to keep things that I did not want known ... not known. I figured out how to not share information ... while appearing to share information. I told the truth in a way that made people certain I was lying. It is Not Hard, people.), but even this author thinks this is a good idea.

Please, for the love of all of us, pressure whoever you can to roll this out, and if you live in a state where it is already available, please download it, turn it on, and if you get a positive test, enter it into your phone so your close contacts can be notified anonymously that they should get a test.

Turkey Theory

I have been seeing a lot of articles about how the turkeys were bred and raised with before times expectations, but Now Times means more, smaller birds are needed and fewer big birds. Obviously supply chain mismatches are Opportunities!

I have been inundated with email about Turkey Roulade, which leads R. and I to the following theory: each large bird can make enough turkey breast for 2 small families, and at least 2 roulades (one per leg). Possibly more, plus whatever is left in the back, neck, etc. can go into ground turkey, turkey croquettes, etc. We suspect it will require more labor in the paid part of the chain which, in theory anyway, should result in greater margin ... somewhere. But it might be less farmer margin, because it is some component in the middle of the chain doing the extra work and getting the added margin.

I will now attempt to find any evidence that this is occurring.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/road-to-recovery/2020/10/19/thanksgiving-turkey-shortage/

Turns out it is really hard for smaller farms focused on the artisanal / natural / etc. end of things that only produce an annual batch of fresh turkeys to pivot to much of anything else.

Also, less mechanization in slaughtering.