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Austin Dispatches No. 228 Dec. 8, 2020

e228fig2For the first time since July, I beat the bastards. According to Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order, I wasn't obliged to wear a mask while voting.1 Instead, I primped and dressed carefully, to improve the chances of distracting people. My gambit worked. No one said anything to me, although I was the only one at the polls without a mask. If anyone had objected, I was prepared to file formal complaints with the Secretary of State's office.

Election Day's down-ballot results were definitive enough to disconcert local pinkos, but not so much as to prompt them to reexamine their thinking.2 Why should they? Despite generally unfavorable election results, they still maintain a death grip on the rest of us because of the continuing anti-coronavirus lockdown.3

As of this issue, Republicans appear poised to retain a majority in the U.S. Senate, have gained seats in the U.S. House, and have increased the number of state legislatures they control, and thus next year's decennial redistricting.4 This includes Texas, thereby embarrassing Chronicalista Mike Clark-Madison, who spent the last 18 months or so insisting the Democrats would retake the Lege through flipping seats in the Austin suburbs.5 I read similarly wrong predictions 20 years ago.

Still, Clark-Madison wasn't wrong about the Dems' motivation or effort. They even brought in Larry David, Jason Alexander, and Julie Louis-Dreyfus for a party fundraiser. You'd think multimillionaire entertainers who got fame and fortune playing schmucks would appreciate President Trump beyond a piñata for their political observations.6 Perhaps it's intrinsic anti-gentile prejudice.7 Regardless, they should curb their corporatism.8 Or to phrase it in the language of an earlier sitcom, they should stifle themselves.9

(As for the presidential race, scheduling demands plus the indeterminate, mercurial nature of the matter hinder an analysis beyond the following points, valid regardless of the definitive outcome:10

1. Election fraud is not uncommon in American political history.11

2. The Democrats particularly have a reputation for committing that effectively.12

3. Many people hate Trump, and can ethically and civically justify to themselves deploying election fraud to bloodlessly remove him from office.

4. Trump is very competitive, and likes to win.13

5. If anyone has successfully defied the odds the last five years, it's Trump.)

Nevertheless, the results mean nothing, because we're still under de facto house arrest after nine months. This may have improved Travis County outcomes for the power elite, including the approval of an ambitious mass transit project.14

As with much in 2020, the local power elite, abetted by Abbott, has exploited the anti-coronavirus measures to push through an intensified statist agenda, such as Travis County election officials using virus "concerns" to exclude poll watchers from the ballot counting room.15 The county clerk subsequently settled out of court with the county GOP.16 Regardless, Project Connect proponents proclaimed victory early in the evening for their transit scheme (initial price tag: $7.1 billion), to be paid for by increased property taxes.17

Talk about kicking people while they're down. Austin already ranks as the No. 1 least-affordable city.18 Just since the last issue, a new UT study concluded the 2015 law intended to increase affordable housing has only made developers richer without producing any affordable housing.19 In the midst of a gushing feature on mass transit, the Sep. 25 Chronicle briefly mentions that postwar urban planning has created sprawl and street patterns that deviate from a "logical street grid," before returning to the assumption that urban planning is an intrinsically good thing.20 The best way to create affordable housing is to eliminate both local government regulations and federal monetary inflation, but only the Business Journal ever broaches such ideas. You certainly don't hear them from the post-Portland Libertarian Party. The Chronicle granted rare editorial space to a local senatorial candidate, who then blathered about an alternative voting system beloved only by math majors.21 His proposal, irrelevant to the real issues we face, might be more credible if he placed better than fifth in a five-man race.

Furthermore, to listen to the pro-mass transit people, you'd never know about the other local government projects noted in Austin Dispatches the past 20 years, with recurring motifs of waste, malfeasance, cost overruns, project delays, and results that look slapdash upon completion and deteriorate from there -- all first reported in media outlets favorable to such projects. These boondoggles precede my arrival, going back at least to the failed first Austin dam.22 If you still need convincing, drive around town and count how many potholes jar your car.23 Yet seemingly everyone continues to think the next big government projects can work. In reality, Project Connect clashes with expansion of the Austin Convention Center, also expensive.24

Meanwhile, the "new normal" continues to provide a convenient cover for continued corporatist assaults on small businesses, workers, and taxpayers -- many non-white -- possibly so redevelopment can proceed without them underfoot, insisting on their rights.25

The Oct. 30 Business Journal reports local bankruptcies have surged, reflecting "the increased cost of doing business in the Austin area as well as the impact of the pandemic."26 The City Council further assaulted private property rights and seized land a developer intended for a hotel.27

Still more businesses have simply closed or moved out of the county.28 Many of them contributed to Austin's social and cultural charms, which took decades to create.29 City government still hasn't disbursed relief money for local music venues. In response, Mayor Steve Adler delivers a lot of double talk and half-hearted pleas for federal funding.30 This ought to be the moment of realization for Austinites that Adler and his fellow corporatists are dedicated to providing tangible benefits only for multinational corporations and big developers, to remake Austin in the image of Houston, despite decades of professions to the contrary.31 The little people can get fucked.

That's just what's happening with the anti-pandemic diktats, spearheaded locally by the acting Austin-Travis County health authority, a sanctimonious quack with the pallor of a garden slug.32 Medical science is the basis for what we've endured since March. Yet increasing numbers of studies and medical professionals contend that the official approach toward coronavirus is wrong.

Lockdowns, social distancing and face masks are ineffective, if not counterproductive.33 Masks also have an adverse psychological effect, especially on children.34

The sensitivity of standard tests can be adjusted ("cycle threshold") to falsely detect the virus in people who aren't contagious or don't even have the virus.35

You can prevent infection by taking supplements.36

Doctors can treat the virus with several preexisting medicines and supplements.37

According to Austin Public Health's COVID-19 Surveillance Web page, as of Dec. 6, Travis County, with a population of about 2 million, has experienced a total number of 40,209 reported cases, or 2 percent of the population, since March. Of those cases, 494 have died (1 percent of total cases), and another 2,785 cases (0.13 percent of the population) are active.

Often, the professionals dispute themselves, like that medical Mussolini:

Asked by another panel member to reiterate that the public should not be

buying respirator masks needed by health care workers, Fauci laughed. “I don’t

want to denigrate people who walk around wearing masks” but masks, he said,

should be worn by sick people. “Put a mask on them, not yourself.” He later

added, to laughter from the audience, “I don’t want to be pejorative against

cruise ships, but if there’s one thing you don’t want to do right now, it’s to take a cruise in Asia.”38

Furthermore, the Chronicle's Aug. 7 issue ran an article on health professionals' recommended "safe sex" practices during the pandemic that read like the kinky behaviors that spread AIDS.39

In other words, we don't have to cower in our residences, putting our lives and livelihoods on hold, waiting for a vaccine, with as-yet unknown adverse side effects, that may or may not work.40

You certainly wouldn't know there's a pandemic by the actions of these officials, like our mayor, who wagged his finger at us about spreading disease through travel while jetting to and from a Mexican resort.41

Meanwhile, recent decisions on law enforcement represent a return to the policies that fueled crime and in turn had to be repudiated to restore public order.42 At a time of rising murder rates,43 the Austin Police Department fired another officer, this time for "racist texts."44 APD suspended another officer calling a protester "gay."45 The department penalized another 11 officers for "misconduct" during the May protests.46 Thieves stole the Austin fire chief's motorcycle from a downtown parking garage on Sep. 11.47 An Austin Public Library employee stole $1.3 million worth of photocopier toner.48

Clark-Madison's forebodings last year turned out to be correct.49 Only it's his ilk that's killing Austin.

Tentacles of Empire

Reports of sexual assaults at Fort Hood continue to evade the main issue: Women shouldn't be in the military.50 A federal judge sentenced ex-government employees to prison for stealing military gear from Camp Mabry.51

Business Roundup

Coronavirus has one benefit: A scooter company plans to leave the Austin market.52 Muzak's owner, incidentally headquartered in Austin, filed for bankruptcy in federal court.53

On the Metro

Aug. 15: The checkout clerk at H-E-B asked how I was.

"I can't breath," I said, pointing at my mask.

The clerk said nothing and averted her eyes in shame.

Aug. 19: Witnessed the aftermath of two smash-ups along Interstate 35 in Round Rock.

Sep. 18: Along FM 1325 between Shoreline Drive and Merrilltown Road, I espied my first real-life drone.

Sep. 21: Outside of the stores, I noticed the earliest sign of Halloween: A tenant at The Morgan Apartments at Thermal Drive and Wells Branch Parkway had festooned the balcony with holiday decor. Unless he left it up from last year.

Oct. 9: I discovered a brand of energy bars called ... "Woke." However, the Round Rock Sprouts had exploited its capitalist privilege and moved the product to the discount shelves in back. That's problematic, especially as the bars were good. I can't even.54

Nov. 6: Witnessed a rush-hour near-collision among some dumb fucks driving nicer cars than mine they didn't deserve, at East Palm Valley Boulevard and Provident Lane.

Nov. 16: Witnessed the aftermath of a collision at Highway 79 and A.W. Grimes Boulevard.

Nov. 21: Found a nickel at the 7-Eleven/Exxon at 12000 N. MoPac Expressway.

Cultural Canapés

I note the Oct. 6 death of flamboyant fretboard folk hero Eddie Van Halen sparked an eruption of encomia everywhere, except where it financially counted -- the terrestrial radio airwaves, thereby depriving his heirs of posthumous royalties.55

Neighborhood News

A vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian on Burnet Road north of U.S. Highway 183 on Oct. 10.56 On Dec. 2, a vehicle crashed into a construction site along MoPac, killing one and injuring four.57 On Aug. 30, I witnessed a near-collision at Parmer Lane and MoPac southbound frontage road.

KXAN's traffic Web page reported collisions at Metric and Research boulevards on July 31, at Braker Lane and MoPac on Aug. 7, on Braker between Ptarmigan Drive and Metric on Aug. 26, at MoPac and 183 on Sep. 4, at Kramer Lane and Metric on Sep. 7, at Burnet and Domain Drive on Sep. 23, at MoPac and Parmer on Oct. 26, at United Drive and Industrial Terrace on Nov. 3, at Burnet and Rutland Drive on Nov. 17, and at Kramer and Burnet on Dec. 3. KFMK-FM reported collisions at Braker and Metric on Sep. 9 and at Park Bend and Cedar Bend drives on Oct. 6. KLBJ-FM reported a collision at Parmer and Lamplight Village Avenue on Oct. 9. KXAN's traffic Web page also reported a vehicle fire at southbound 183 and MoPac on Oct. 7.

On Sep. 13 and Nov. 8, power outages briefly struck the neighborhood. A supplement to the Aug. 14 Business Journal waxes bullish on North Austin.58 Unfortunately, the 20,500-seat soccer stadium is still progressing toward completion.59 Round Rock has enticed a manufacturer at Braker Center to relocate.60 Nineteen other businesses have opened and two have closed.61

Media Indigest

The Austin American-Statesman's revamped its Web site.62

 

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NOTES

1 Abbott, Gov. Greg. Executive Order GA 29, Relating to the Use of Face Coverings During the COVID-19 Disaster, 2 Jul. 2020: 2.

2  Barbaro, Nick. "It's Okay to Gloat ... Just a Little." AC 13 Nov. 2020: 8; Clark-Madison, Mike. "Coming Out of the Ashes." AC 6 Nov. 2020: 10-11; Clark-Madison. "Statewide Stalemate." AC 6 Nov. 2020: 10-11; Lindell, Chuck, and Shonda Novak. "Dancing, Singing Biden Supporters Celebrate." AAS 8 Nov. 2020: A1+; Recio, Maria. "After Sweeping Losses, Texas Democrats Ask Why." AAS 7 Nov. 2020: A1+.

3 Price, Asher. "Virus Rules Extended to December." AAS 16 Aug. 2020: B1-2; Sullivan, Beth. "City, County Extend COVID-19 Orders for the Long Haul." AC 21 Aug. 2020: 14; "Travis County Bars Still Cannot Reopen." ABJ 13 Nov. 2020: A3; Wilson, Mark D. "Austin to Keep Coronavirus Restrictions in Place for Now." AAS 1 Aug. 2020: A1+.

4 "What Republicans Need for 2024." Chattanooga (Tenn.) Times Free Press 15 Nov. 2020: F5.

5 Clark-Madison. "Hey, at Least Trump Lost!" AC 13 Nov. 2020: 16.

6 "Election Ticker: Are We There Yet?" AC 30 Oct. 2020: 26; Armstrong, Jennifer Keishin. Seinfeldia: How a Show About Nothing Changed Everything. New York City: Simon & Schuster, 2016.

7 Atzmon, Gilad. The Wandering Who?: A Study of Jewish Identity Politics. Winchester, U.K.: Zero Books, 2011.

8 AD No. 61 (Jan. 28, 2004); AD No. 197 (Aug. 20, 2017).

9 Mansour, David. From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century. "Archie Bunker." Kansas City, Mo.: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2005: 12.

10 Loucks, Don. "U.S. Presidential Election Is Exploding." Bastrop (Texas) Advertiser 26 Nov. 2020: A4+.

11 Gumbel, Andrew. Steal This Vote: Dirty Elections and the Rotten History of Democracy in America. New York City: Nation Books, 2005.

12 Fund, John H., and Hans von Spakovsky. Who’s Counting?: How Fraudsters and Bureaucrats Put Your Vote at Risk. New York City: Encounter Books, 2012.

13 Trump, Donald J., and Tony Schwartz. Trump: The Art of the Deal. New York City: Random House, 1987: 53-56.

14 "Austin Voters Approve $7.1 Billion Mass Transit Plan." ABJ 6 Nov. 2020: A3; Cesar, Greg. "Progressive Policies Are Popular. That's Why Austin Saw Big Wins on Election Night." AC 13 Nov. 2020: 4; Clark-Madison. "The Big Engine That Did." AC 6 Nov. 2020: 16; Fisher, Lina. "The Blueberry Abides (Barely)." AC 6 Nov. 2020: 14-15; Jankowski, Philip. "A Look at What's Ahead After Prop A." AAS 7 Nov. 2020: A1+.

15 Autullo, Ryan. "Will Voters Reject Austin City Council's Shift Left." AAS 18 Oct. 2020: A1+; Cobler, Nicole. "In Reversal, Abbott Orders Use of Masks." AAS 3 Jul. 2020: A1+; Tilove, Jonathan. "Abbott's Lonely Middle Course in Pandemic." AAS 2 Aug. 2020: A1+.

16 Osbourne, Heather. "Poll Watchers Allowed in Counting Rooms." AAS 13 Nov. 2020: B1+.

17 Skaggs, Jim, and Roger Falk. "Project Connect Is a Train Wreck." ABJ 2 Oct. 2020: A23.

18 "Austin Ranks No. 1 Again -- but This Time That's Bad." ABJ 7 Aug. 2020: 13

19 Barbaro. "Affordability Amended." AC 25 Sep. 2020: 6-7.

20 Craver, Jack. "Making Our Connection." AC 25 Sep. 2020: 14-19.

21 Dixon, Pat, and Jeff Ridgeway. "The Argument for Approval Voting." AC 31 Jul. 2020: 4.

22 AD No. 208n6 (Aug. 18, 2018).

23 AD No. 136n24 (Aug.10, 2010).

24 Hardison, Kathryn. "Vision of Future Downtown Takes Shape Below Ground." ABJ 27 Nov. 2020: 4.

25 Hardison. "Downtown Still Hurting." ABJ 6 Nov. 2020: A12; Moreno-Lozano, Luz. "How Latinos Are Getting Squeezed out of Austin." AAS 22 Nov. 2020: A1+; Pope, Colin. "Downtown Austin Isn't What It Used to Be -- but We'll Change That." ABJ 25 Sep. 2020: A23.

26 Anderson, Will. "Bankruptcies Up Nearly 70% This Year in Austin." ABJ 30 Oct. 2020: A8.

27 Salazar, Daniel. "Hotel Plans on Ice As City Looks to Expand NW Austin Greenbelt." ABJ 7 Aug. 2020: 17.

28 "Another Longtime Business Closes; Hugh Movie Collection for Sale -- With a Catch." ABJ 4 Sep. 2020: 18; Hardison. "Company to Watch." ABJ 6 Nov. 2020: A13; "Pandemic Gets Last Laugh As Comedy Club Closes." ABJ 11 Sep. 2020: A3; Osbourne and Autullo. "Bars to Stay Shut 2 More Weeks." AAS 15 Oct. 2020: A1+; Thompson, Paul. "Pandemic Forces Torchy's Tacos to Alter Plans." ABJ 21 Aug. 2020: 6; Whittaker, Richard. "I Luv Video Closes ... So What Next?" AC 18 Sep. 2020: 20.

29 Thompson. "Can Our Live Music Scene Be Revived?" ABJ 7 Aug. 2020: 4-7+.

30 Hardison. "City Hall Rushes to Help Small Businesses." ABJ 2 Oct. 2020: A15; Rascoe, Rachel. "City of Austin Delays Venue Funding -- Again." AC 27 Nov. 2020: 48; Rascoe. "City Funding for Music Venues Still MIA." AC 7 Aug. 2020: 30.

31 AD No. 79n7 (May 22, 2005).

32 Clark-Madison. "Dr. Mark Escott." AC 27 Nov. 2020: 21; Osbourne. " 'COVID-19 Can Touch Anyone.' " AAS 3 Oct. 2020: A1+.

33 Guide to Public Health Measure to Reduce the Impact of Influenza Pandemics in Europe: 'The ECDC Menu'. Stockholm: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 2009: 1; Klompas, Dr. Michael et al. "Universal Masking in Hospitals in the Covid-19 Era." New England Journal of Medicine 21 May 2020: 382; Xiao, Jingyi et al. "Nonpharmaceutical Measures for Pandemic Influenza in Nonhealthcare Settings — Personal Protective and Environmental Measures." Emerging Infectious Diseases May 2020: 967-975.

34 Cooper, Mick. "An Empirical and Theoretical Investigation Into the Psychological Effects of Wearing a Mask." Diss. U of Sussex, 1999.

35 Mandavilli, Apoorva. "You're Positive. But Are You Contagious? Tests May Be Too Sensitive, Experts Say." NYT 30 Aug. 2020: A6.

36 Spinas E. et al. "Can Vitamin A Mediate Immunity and Inflammation?" Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents. Jan./Mar. 2015:1-6; Tabatabaeizadeh, Seyed-Amir et al. "High Dose Supplementation of Vitamin D Affects Measures of Systemic Inflammation: Reductions in High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Level and Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) Distribution." Journal of Cellular Biochemistry Dec. 2017: 4317-4322; Tsai, Yung-Fong et al. "Reservatrol Suppresses Neutrophil Activation Via Inhibition of SRC Family Kinases to Attenuate Lung Injury." Free Radical Biology and Medicine Dec. 2019: 67-77; Zhang, Jinsong et al. "Association Between Regional Selenium Status and Reported Outcome of COVID-19 Cases in China." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Jun. 2020: 1297-1299.

37 Arshad, Samia et al. "Treatment With Hydroxychloroquine, Azithromycin, and Combination in Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19." International Journal of Infectious Diseases 1 Aug. 2020: 396-403; Bloch, Evan M. et al. "Deployment of Convalescent Plasma for the Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19." Journal of Clinical Investigation 1 Jun. 2020: 2,757-2,765; Cortegiani, Andrea. "A Systematic Review on the Efficacy and Safety of Chloroquine for the Treatment of of COVID-19." Journal of Critical Care Jun. 2020: 279-283; Gonzalez, Michael J. et al. "High Dose Intravenous Vitamin C and Influenza: A Case Report." Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine Jun. 2020: 1-3; Huang, Mingxing et al. "Treating COVID-19 With Chloroquine." Journal of Molecular Cell Biology May 2020:322-325; Shah Sanket et al. "A Systematic Review of the Prophylactic Role of Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine in Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19)." International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases May 2020:613-619.

38 Woodward, Bob. Rage. New York City: Simon & Schuster, 2020: 230.

39 Small, Nataleah. "Kissing Is Out, Glory Holes Are In." AC 7 Aug. 2020: 23.

40 Institute of Medicine (U.S.). Committee to Review Adverse Effects of Vaccines, and Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice. Adverse Effects of Vaccines: Evidence and Causality. Ed. Kathleen Stratton et al. Washington, D.C.: Institute of Medicine/The National Academies Press, 2012; Peeples, Lynne. "Avoiding Pitfalls in the Pursuit of a COVID-19 Vaccine." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Apr. 2020: 8218-8221.

41 Autullo. "Will Cabo Trip Dim Adler's Political Future." AAS 4 Dec. 2020: A1+; Herman, Ken. "The Mayor Goes to Mexico." AAS 4 Dec. 2020: B1+; Plohetski, Tony. "While in Cabo, Austin Mayor Says Residents 'Need to Stay Home.' " AAS 3 Dec. 2020: A1+.

42 Tucker, William. Vigilante: The Backlash Against Crime in America. Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.: Stein and Day, 1985: 48-50.

43 Osbourne, and Ana Ramirez. "Austin Seeing a Deadly Year." AAS 15 Nov. 2020: A1+.

44 Bingamon, Brant. "Manley Fires APD Officer for Racist Texts." AC 27 Nov. 2020: 14; Choi, Hojun. "Memo: APD Officer Fired Over Racist Texts." AAS 28 Nov. 2020: B1-2.

45 Choi. "Officer Suspended for Calling Protestor 'Gay.' " AAS 3 Dec. 2020: B2.

46 Hall, Katie. "11 Cops Penalized After May Protests." AAS 3 Dec. 2020: B1-2; Sanders, Austin. "Eleven APD Officers Disciplined for Misconduct in Police-Brutality Protests." AC 4 Dec. 2020: 21.

47 Carlson, Kara. "Fire Chief's Motorcycle Stolen." AAS 13 Sep. 2020: B2.

48 Autullo. "$1.3 Million in Library Toner Stolen." AAS 6 Oct. 2020: B1+.

49 Clark-Madison. "The Next Bust." AC 8 Mar. 2019: 16+.

50 Gutmann, Stephanie. The Kinder, Gentler Military: Can America’s Gender-Neutral Fighting Force Still Win Wars? New York City: Scribner’s, 2000; Osbourne. "Army Official: Investigation Shows Failings at Fort Hood." AAS 21 Nov. 2020: B1-2; Osbourne, and Jessica Priest. " 'The Great Place?' " AAS 2 Aug. 2020: A1+; Osbourne. "Army to Release Food Hood Report." AAS 8 Dec. 2020: B1+.

51 Hall. "Pair Get Prison for Camp Mabry Thefts." AAS 22 Nov. 2020: B1-2.

52 Carlson. "Scooter Startup Revel Pulling out of Austin." AAS 8 Dec. 2020: B5+.

53 Cronin, Mike. "Bankruptcy Settled in One Day." ABJ 7 Aug. 2020: 14.

54 Williams, Justin Michael. Stay Woke: A Meditation Guide for the Rest of Us. Boulder, Colo.: Sounds True, 2020.

55 Farber, Jim. "A Rock Original With Lightning in His Fingers." NYT 7 Oct. 2020: A1+.

56 Jankowski. "Pedestrian Fatally Struck on Burnet." AAS 11 Oct. 2020: B7.

57 Martínez-Cabrera, Alejandro. "1 Dead, 4 Injured After Vehicle Crashes Into Construction Zone." AAS 3 Dec. 2020: B2.

58 Pope, and Erin Edgemon. "They Built It -- Now Will They Come?" ABJ 14 Aug. 2020: B4-5.

59 Barbaro. "Soccer Watch." AC 13 Nov. 2020: 35; Salazar. "We're About to Be a Truly Major League City." ABJ 14 Aug. 2020: B6-7.

60 "Round Rock Lures Growing Austin Manufacturer With Incentives." ABJ 30 Oct. 2020: A4.

61 "Impacts." CIN Jul. 2020, Northwest Austin ed.: 6."Impacts." CIN Aug. 2020, Northwest Austin ed.: 6; "Impacts." CIN Nov. 2000, Northwest Austin ed.: 4; "New Open." CIN Oct. 2020, Northwest Austin ed.: 4.

62 Bridges, John. "Our Websites Have a New Look. Give Them a Read." AAS 4 Dec. 2020: A1+.