A proposal for approaching this next phase of the pandemic less like an epidemiologist and more like an engineer. Plus, new findings from the Mars Perseverance rover that has NASA breathing a sigh of relief. And product placement in novels, added without the author’s knowledge. It’s a real thing that I hope remains in the past.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsRaycon, Get 15% off at buyraycon.com/kottkeLinks:Reimagining our pandemic problems with the mindset of an engineer (MIT Technology Review)A Prayer for Our Next COVID Era (The Atlantic) Mars scientists now know where to look for life (BBC)Boulders On Mars Suggest a Warm and Humid Past (Time)The time Terry Pratchett’s German publisher inserted a soup ad into his novel. (Literary Hub)Pratchett anecdote and responses with photos (Neil Gaiman, Twitter)Terry Pratchett and the Maggi Soup Adverts (Stuffed Crocodile)Heinz Halloween Tomato Blood Costume  (Heinz)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.