Streak maintained, sort of

From 1978 through last year, I had never missed a Mayday morning at the river (and thence to Harvard and beyond). It was originally (and still is, I think) sponsored by the Newtowne Morris team. I am doing my best to be compliant in these distancing times, but couldn't stand the thought of missing a year. We made a little Maypole (which we only carried, not danced around) and went to the river in the pouring rain. Saw many joggers but no other revelers, although I admit we got there later than usual. Posed for selfies, looked for but did not find the bench dedicated to Marian, admired goslings, sang a few songs: Hal-an-tow, Country Life, Unite & Unite, and exited whistling, with some difficulty under the mask, the Furry Day carol, as we crossed Mem Drive - see siderea's excellent compilation https://siderea.dreamwidth.org/1619944.html

Country Life, not specific to May, but sung every year by the river
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV9M6x8PIJc
I was awake before dawn, when the small birds were first making a racket, but didn't arise at that time.

We did not try the Magdalen hymn, because we don't know it by heart and presumed that nothing was happening at Magdalen tower today anyway, neither singing nor ringing.

Julie Andrews isn't referenced in that context, but I think of it some years anyway (including this year). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pljyjiIMH9o

We didn't sing any union songs, either, but did postpone our TJ's shopping trip because we had read that their workers are in solidarity with the strike-like actions at Amazon, Instacart, Target, Walmart, and Whole Foods. I won't read the Washington Post today, either, not that they'll notice. I am not clever enough to make up a song ACA, PPE, UBI. Hmm.

I use a mask, but...

I think before some official entity requires people to wear masks in public, there should be widespread education about how to wear them, what level of protection one gets/gives buy wearing the mask, that mask wearing is NOT a substitute for social distancing, and keep your flipping hands of your mask. This worrisome study in the BMJ concludes that mask wearing makes things worse, because it gives a false sense of safety.
https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1422/rr-13
On the other hand, this one in the same journal cites the precautionary principle, and says wear them.
https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/369/bmj.m1435.full.pdf
There is this, supposedly circulated by various police departments in Illinois. I hope it's a fake
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EW3D9BxXQAI6Icu?format=png&name=900x900
Even if it's fake, the fact that many places have empowered police to be the mask enforcers means that more people are at risk from police violence, and something as simple as issuing a ticket means that social distance is being violated. I am also worried about non-police policing of masks (and social distancing). The Lexington email chat list people are fortunately separated by space when ranting, but some people IRL will presumably come to blows over different levels of adherence, and that would spread even more germs.
I have to wonder how badly contaminated the hands are of the people who are frequently raising and lowering their masks. Put them on, leave them on, wash your hands immediately when you remove them. Is anybody saying this on the news?
I saw a headline on Slate yesterday about why runners shouldn't be masked. I didn't click on it, but saw that the author asked something like "can you imaging trying to breath with cloth over your face?" I don't have to imagine it. Granted that I only use a single layer of cloth when I'm running, not the common multi-thickness homemade masks, I don't have any problem with it. Considering what a swamp the inside becomes after a while (very humid in there, sometimes rather snotty), I have to assume that at least some stuff is not getting out. I still cross the street lots to get away from people.