In the US we have a new national mask mandate:
I hope that link takes you to a chart from NYT. It works on my computer, but my computer usually knows what I want.
What the world needs now is incentive for everyone to get a Covid vaccine, and this might help. I love carrots, which are definitely so much better than sticks, especially with organic, raw cashew butter, and I’m thinking other folks might feel the same way. So why not offer more carrots for vaccinations? The San Jose Sharks–those are Sharks wearing hockey skates, in case you aren’t familiar–are selling game tickets exclusively to, well, let’s call ourselves The Vaxen. I haven’t been to a hockey game in a decade but I might revive my interest to support the concept.
I’ve long thought that anyone who owns a small entertainment venue or museum could generate more business by restricting entry to The Vaxen, and small business owners badly need our support. If you could move up the date on that 100-person wedding if you only invite The Vaxen, why not? Send the invitations sixty days in advance so everyone has time to comply.
Recently I heard an appeal to all The Vaxen to reach out to our anti-Vaxxer relatives and neighbors to encourage them to do the right thing, and I immediately descended into major guilt mode. I am a member of a small group of people of which 80% are anti-Vaxxers and Yes, I perceive this as an opportunity. Yet my status in this group is low and my participation not completely voluntary.
That is sort of a riddle. I’m not going to give you the answer though. There are things about which one dare not blog.
In any case, although I would be very proud of myself were I a fervent speaker on the order of Fred Hampton or a change agent like Greta Thunberg, and I try to incite myself to greatness, I fear these qualities would have emerged before now were they extant. I do keep the issue front and center when I can do so casually, but I don’t have the gumption to make this my cause.
My husband listened to a podcast with the theme, People are Never Swayed by Facts. Hang on for a moment, my mind is boggling…Ok, I’m back. This podcaster says we are persuaded instead by narratives, in all their forms. Once upon a time there was a little virus…
No, I’m not good at this.
For those few, very few, who have a condition that specifically prohibits their getting vaccinated, I say, Please be patient. Life will get back to normal for everyone, eventually, I pray. Before that happens though, we have to get most people out of the business of using their bodies to shelter, transmit, and mutate SARS-CoV-2, which are things that can happen even when you are trying really hard to avoid them.
Meanwhile, we can all go outside to enjoy seeing each other’s beautiful, full length, fully expressive human faces.
Culminating Triad 
I agree, it is hard to get people to change their minds. I found this tweet stream that may help. It explains the science of vaccines, specifically mRNA vaccines, in language even 16-year-old mentalities of any age can understand (if you don’t mind talking about “asshole proteins”).
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