#which I take to reflect the generally grimy practices of the larger population

[elephantbitterhead]

Another nice thing about this whole affair is finding out about all of the DISGUSTING things that have been going on without my permission. 

“These regulations require bowlers – as well as the designated ball-shiner of every Test team – to change the habits of a lifetime and not to lick their fingers upon receipt of the cricket ball.” 

Sir, that ball has been rolling on the ground please pull yourself together. Also, unrelated to the current predicament, but surely the ‘designated ball-shiner’ deserves a more dignified title. 

#working as an editor on infectious disease journals made me somewhat more Howard Hughes-y #but it is turning out that the whole situation is a lot worse than I thought #also #speaking of my editorial career #one of those journals focused on hospital infection control #an an article there concluded that British hospital staff are the most half-assed professional hand washers in Europe #which I take to reflect the generally grimy practices of the larger population #and PERHAPS to explain the UK's impressively unimpressive COVID-19 performance #another great tale from that same journal #involved a hospital calling in the CDC to help them with what they thought was an outbreak of bacterial infections #but turned out to a fucking filthy incubator that was being used to process path samples but hadn't been cleaned #ONE SINGLE TIME in 11 years #the CDC was like 'Yeah see here's your problem' #I will never ever ever get over that incubator story #but the greatest story of all was a German hospital giving a set of rabid donor lungs to a transplant recipient #maybe check whether the donor might have died from rabies I guess #just a thought #I've probably told you all these journal stories before #but they're still great!