Astroturfing the fans.

Graphs show which US states are seeing COVID-19 cases increasing or decreasing. 1/18

See also: Where coronavirus hospitalizations are rising and falling. 2/18

This week the Senate came within one vote of upending part of the Patriot Act's warrantless browser spying. 3/18

With work-based health coverage taking a hit, America's biggest insurer has decided to reenter the Obamacare market in Maryland. 4/18

Fox Sports has plans to add artificial crowd noise and project virtual fans in empty stadiums during broadcasts. 5/18

A machine-learning algorithm invents a new word—with a definition—every time you refresh this page. 6/18

A Hong Kong food company is hiring someone to build an island in Animal Crossing to promote its products. 7/18

Watch: The musicians behind the Animal Crossing theme perform a socially distanced version of the song. 8/18

From the very beginning, Sesame Street reflected a reality many children were living, but never saw represented on screen. 9/18

To measure hail: "Be in the right place at the right time. Or the wrong place at the wrong time, depending on your perspective." 10/18

Digitized records from the Shakespeare and Company lending library show which books members—including Joyce, Stein, etc.—borrowed. 11/18

A fascinating, in-depth look at how authors, booksellers, and publishers are promoting books and reading during the pandemic. 12/18

Emily Wilson is releasing daily videos of herself reading—and acting out, with props!—scenes from her Odyssey translation. 13/18

A continually updated list—currently nearing 1,000 entries—of YouTube links to John Peel Sessions. 14/18

The latest installment in the Hood Internet's ongoing series of jamming 50 songs from an entire year into one three-minute track. This time it's 1986—and the mashup of Prince and New Order is particularly nice. 15/18

From temperature checks to contact tracing, how concert organizers are hoping to put on socially distanced shows. 16/18

Astrid Kirchherr, the photographer who took some of the first photos of the Beatles, and who helped create their early image, has died at 81. 17/18

A beautiful new song from Bing & Ruth, "Live Forever," with a transportive video from Derrick Belcham. 18/18

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