This afternoon.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the public face of the US government’s response to the rona, has released his emails and correspondence at the request of The Washington Post.

The package contains communications from March and April 2020.

Included is an email (top) from Dr Fauci saying masks are ineffective as the virus “is small enough to pass through the material”.

Another (middle) from scientist Kristian Anderson tells Dr Fauci that SARS-CoV-2 has “unusual features” that “potentially look engineered”. Dr Fauci has defended the natural-origin theory since the beginning of the pandemic.

Meanwhile…

Also in the email cache.

Virologist Adam Gaertner (above) claims to know the process of ‘how the virus was created’ and includes ingredients, such as ‘HIV’, along with a recipe.

But could a bat prepare all that?

In a cave?

Something the experts might ponder in the days ahead.

Anthony Fauci’s Emails Reveal The Pressure That Fell On One Man (Buzzfeed)

Meanwhile…

Yikes.

Meanwhile…

Behold: the Rimac Nivera – an all electric hypercard from Croatian manufacturer Rimac that debuted at the 2018 Geneva motor show – finally ready for full production.

An ‘ultra-aero system’ and carbon fibre monocoque chassis maximise downforce and minimise drag with four electric motors pushing 0-100km’h in a staggering 1.85 seconds with a top speed of 415km/h. Off the track, there’s room for two, plus luggage.

Only 150 will be made. Yours will cost €2,050,000.

uncrate

Behold: Orion. But what are those streaks of light crossing through it? To wit:

They are reflections of sunlight from numerous Earth-orbiting satellites. Appearing by eye as a series of successive points floating across a twilight sky, the increasing number of communications satellites, including SpaceX Starlink satellites, are causing concern among many astronomers. On the positive side, Starlink and similar constellations make the post-sunset sky more dynamic, satellite-based global communications faster, and help provide digital services to currently underserved rural areas. On the negative side, though, these low Earth-orbit satellites make some deep astronomical imaging programs more difficult, in particular observing programs that need images taken just after sunset and just before dawn. Planned future satellite arrays that function in higher orbits may impact investigations of the deep universe planned for large ground-based telescopes at any time during the night. The streaks across Orion are not from Starlink but rather satellites in high geosynchronous orbit. The featured picture, taken in 2019 December, is a digital combination of over 65 3-minute exposures, with some images taken to highlight the background Orion Nebula, while others to feature the passing satellites.

(Image: Amir H. Abolfath)

apod

Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy

Via RTÉ:

The Late Late Show is looking forward to welcoming our studio audience back when it is safe to do so. We are hoping that will happen during our upcoming season, which begins in September.

At present for the Health and Safety of RTÉ staff and crew working on our live programmes, we are only accepting applications from people who will be fully vaccinated at the time of broadcast.

Proof of vaccination will be required for admission to TV Studios.

Stay home or is the little prick worth it?

Only you can decide.

*rubs arm*

Be in The Late Late Show Studio Audience! (RTÉ)

The Late Late Show audience is returning – but only for vaccinated people (Joe.ie)

This morning/afternoon

Zero Covid enthusiasts People Before Profit make a u-turn ahead of a debate this evening on whether the covid Emergency powers are to be extended until November, with the possibility of a three-month extension until February next year.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said last month the November date was informed by ‘public health advice’ and “may well be required into late autumn or early winter”.

Fight!

RollingNews

From top at left to right:  Louise Flynn Byrne, Paddy Debrun and Sophie Marini-Lazarov; from left: Aidan Comerford, Chair of Beann Eadair GAA Club; Mindy O’Brien, co-ordinator of VOICE Ireland; David Healy, Mayor of Fingal; Paddy Debrun (in costume as plastic bottle); Louise Flynn Byrne; and Michael Wright of Michael Wright Hospitality

This morning.

Howth, county Dublin.

A gathering of Howth heads on the west pier to launch The Return for Change campaign taking place this Sunday and Monday.

Return for Change will work with local groups to encourage people to return their empty plastic bottles and cans to collection points on the promenade and, in exchange, Michael Wright Hospitality, owned by fish mogul Michael Wright will donate funds to various local charitable clubs.

Photocall Ireland

This afternoon.

The Dáil at the Convention Centre.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said that the Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien will “bring in legislation quickly” to close a loophole allowing an 8% rent hike for tenants.

However, he said that the Government is limited by the Constitution on introducing a blanket ban on rent increases.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said that “an entire generation is locked out of home ownership” because of high rents.

Not only do they face the prospect of the Government “cutting their income support”, she added, but they also face a “double whammy” of an 8% rent hike.

Loophole allowing 8% rent hike to be closed – Taoiseach (RTE)

RollingNews

Deirdre Conroy (left) and Croatia-born actor Goran Visnjic as Luka Kovač in TV drama ER

This morning/afternoon.

In February 2013 Conroy, having already let one room in her Clonskeagh home, met a “handsome” prospective tenant for another she’d put on the rental market. In a blog she kept at the time titled Diary of a Dublin Landlady, she gave this man the nickname “Kovac” in reference to ER character Dr Luka Kovač…

….By the end of March, Conroy had found a replacement tenant: “I am especially relieved with my current lodgers, after the Latvian experience, better to stick with what you know if you have to share your house,” she wrote…

…Conroy took issue with “Kovac” receiving Child Benefit, despite it being his right under European Union law…

“It will take the property tax of six houses in this cul-de-sac to meet the annual child benefit to one 5-year old in Latvia, where they will be getting their own benefit anyway, and that’s just one child living abroad.”

Ōh,

‘Better to stick with what you know’: Fianna Fáil byelection candidate on letting room to Latvian worker (The Ditch)

RollingNews/NBC

Broadsheet.ie