Tokyo is gradually reopening, having put in place a system to stop transmission of Covid-19. Japan did not use snooping apps, but made a success of contact tracing by human investigators. It did not force anyone to do anything, but people complied with the sensible measures announced.

By contrast, the US is reopening, in a careless way, without any system to stop transmission, while transmission is increasing.

This reminds me of cargo cults. In the 1940s and 50s, some charismatic leaders in New Guinea and nearby islands had their followers construct imitation airports. They hoped these would fool the spirits that sent "cargo" to European colonists and soldiers into sending some to them too. It did not work. The practice ended many decades ago.

Now it's the turn of the US to follow a path that is an imitation of a rational policy, missing only the rationality.

The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China will join countries to pressure China on its cruel actions.

*Anger mounts over selective curfew rules: 'A license to decide who to arrest'.*

These laws appoint thug departments as despots. When a despot happens to be benevolent, you can get good government for as long as it lasts. But will the next despot be benevolent too? Probably not.

(satire) *The Oakland Athletics stadium was immediately converted into condos Friday after the team missed a rent payment.*

(satire) *Los Angeles Police chief Michel Moore vowed Friday to take concrete steps to better cover up violence.*