We can do so much better than this

Hello! Welcome to my weekly habit of sharing.

As I looked through the links I have to share for you this week, I kept saying it to myself and now I’m saying it to to you now: we CAN do better this this.

The U.S. “can virtually eliminate the virus any time we decide to.” So the question is—who isn’t deciding?

First they came for the immigrants, and I did not speak out—because I was not an immigrant..Then they came for asylum seekers…but I was not an asylum seeker….

This story from an asylum seeker inside an ICE detention center is sickening. Even if we weren’t in a pandemic.

My heart! Prayers for Big Pookie and the nursing home “in Walnut Creek, California/ where she waits, exiled, behind a numbered door/ as the casualties mount on the other side…”

America the racist and pitiful

Saved by the Pandemic? A clear plan to BOTH stimulate the economy and avert climate catastrophe. All humanity needs is—yep—leaders who care.

Take 1000 people and add three variables: initial number of infections, social distancing and personal protection measures such as masks and quarantining. Play with the model yourself (bottom of article)—insert different numbers. I mean really, there’s no surprise here!

The world’s greatest threat: over-consumption

Institutional racism baked into the system: Corporate funding for Black Companies and Entrepreneurs

Conversation changes voter’s minds - (but in person and not on social media!)

Peace and joy until next week—

Denise

P.S. If you know others who would enjoy this newsletter, please share this email. All are welcome to subscribe.

How much power?

Hello! Welcome to my weekly habit of sharing.

Whether we like it or not, all of our lives are fully enmeshed—economically, politically, socially and yes emotionally— in the webs of the Four Horsemen (Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Google). Given that the CEOS of said horsemen will soon testify before the US House Judiciary Antitrust Committee, then, I think I can be most helpful by sharing just one link this week…

…In which the writer explains why the politicians probably won’t ask the tough questions…

…but then (second half is the real gem), he provides the questions (with pictures) that they SHOULD ask.

Galloway provides the very best visuals to illustrate what the numbers these Giants represent really mean. To our country and our own lives.

We humans have a hard time visualizing numbers without pictures, I think.

Fire and Fawning by Scott Galloway—highly recommended!

How much power is monopoly…or something even more destructive to the common economic and social good?

Peace and joy until next week—

Denise

P.S. If you know others who would enjoy this newsletter, please share this email. All are welcome to subscribe.

Reality and silver linings

Hello! Welcome to my weekly habit of sharing.

Five things I want to share with you this week:

  1. College this year. It’s not what kids, parents or college administrators want to hear—like for everyone else about the pandemic—but two weeks ago Prof Scott Galloway of NYU called out the lunacy (and economic motivations) for sending college kids back to physical college classes:

My 4th year at UCLA I was Interfraternity Council President… As king of the jarheads, I was privy to the tragedy that unfurled each week from the collision of youth, alcohol, and newfound freedom. In the same year, a Lambda Chi passed out from drinking on the roof of his fraternity, rolled off into the driveway, and was found the next morning in a coma. Our IFC VP (a Phi Kap) got shi**y drunk at a party in Malibu, decided to take a jetski out at 2 am, and washed up 5 days later. Our treasurer (Sigma Chi) hanged himself after his girlfriend rejected his marriage proposal. Yep, but today’s youth will definitely wear masks and keep 6 feet from each other off campus.

This week, titled USS University, his message is more direct.

Think about this. Next month, as currently envisioned, 2,800+ cruise ships retrofitted with white boards and a younger cohort will set sail in the midst of a raging pandemic. The density and socialization on these cruise ships could render college towns across America the next virus hot spots, [their healthcare systems overwhelmed ]“in a matter of days.”

Back in May too many Americans ignored reality and tried to go back to normal—and now the coronavirus is worse than ever in the U.S. Will we look back and say we did it again in September—only worse?

2. Now, let’s look at pandemic silver linings—because really, what else can we do? Saved by the Pandemic? And how about this vision - including actual 3-D virtual reality vision - of New York City without cars! Super cool! Oh, and while we can’t be certain (yet), but it’s interesting to note that there are no known cases of Covid-10 transmission via surfaces.

3. Inequalities close look at home:

With rapid rates of gentrification and some of the highest housing prices and homelessness numbers, San Francisco is home to the most extreme income inequalities in the country. We all have a duty to realize that national reform is needed, but we must start with looking at ourselves and our own communities. Especially those of you who’ve flocked to the Bay Area for six-figure salaries in tech and bussed commutes into Mountain View — now’s also the time to acquaint yourself with how regional gentrification continues to widen the racial disparities faced by BIPOC Bay Area residents.

4. Creativity, Community, Connection, Collaboration. CGood TV just launched a free, online, 4-part series called C the Good. Each short video explores each of these “four pillars of a conscious world”. Truly inspiring and beautiful. Also, talk about a great example of someone doing what it takes in these strange times to make himself - and others - happy!

5. The Great Realisation. I will be forever grateful to CGood above for introducing me to Probably Tomfoolery on YouTube. He is so talented (and so cute!) I’m going to binge watch all his work this weekend. Here’s the short viral video—a true work of art—that they talk about: The Great Realisation .

May it be so.

Peace and joy until next week—

Denise

P.S. If you know others who would enjoy this newsletter, please share this email. All are welcome to subscribe.

When will we get the vaccine?

Hello! Welcome to my weekly habit of sharing.

Update on Rufus after his surgery—he is doing great! I have never been through a surgery with an animal and I am amazed how quickly he went from heavy narcotics and barely able to walk (incisions near his front legs) to no meds and leaping back up on to the bed (at 6am) wondering when we’re going to hike again. It’s been one week—but unfortunately his doctor say he has to wait for two.

I have just a few links for you this week—but each one of them is don’t-miss-phenomenal!

Cut through the hearsay and media “reports.” When will we get a vaccine? Anthony Fauci’s Boss on Why Things Could be Much Better Soon. Dr. Francis Collins is the head of the National Institutes of Health. If anyone knows about the (promising) state of vaccines for Covid-19, this man does.

Second, Natalie Wynn, YouTube phenomenon, “video essayist and entertainer.” If you haven’t experienced her Contrapoints videos yet…well, here’s your chance. So smart—and funny (my favorite combo in people). Here’s a good intro: What’s Wrong with Capitalism? Part I and Part II.

I absolutely loved Austin Channing’s book, I’m Still Here — Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness. A world made for whiteness…as the author shares her experiences growing up black in white middle class and communities, and then going on to college and into the work world, we understand better... it’s a quick read. Highly recommended.

And speaking of book recommendations. When the world just gets too heavy, there’s nothing better than escaping another time and place—and someone else’s life! I love this series so far as recommended by a friend to me: The Royal Spyness Series by Rhys Bowen, beginning with Book 1. (can’t beat that price either!) It takes place in London, 1932, and the solver of mysteries is Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, 34th in line for the English throne—Georgie for short. So much fun!

Peace and joy until next week—

Denise

P.S. If you know others who would enjoy this newsletter, please share this email. All are welcome to subscribe.

Lotta love

Hello! Welcome to my weekly habit of sharing.

rufustahoe.jpg

I’m writing to you the night before our dog, Rufus, is to have surgery to remove some problematic but benign tumors Barring unforeseen events, he’ll be fine…but I’m still distracted. He’s our baby—even 10 years later!

So in any event, this week I don’t have much more to say except to share so many great links. Enjoy!

Five things I want to share with you this week:

  1. Two Americans to celebrate: Graphic artist Milton Glaser, co-founder of New York Magazine, creator of so much iconic art including the psychedelic Bob Dylan Poster and the I Love New York logo, and so much more. He died last week at 91 years old, but his art will live on for centuries. I bet you recognize a lot of it!

    Also, Charles Booker, who might have lost the democratic primary in Kentucky, but wow, read his concession letter. A politician who deeply cares about people.  Imagine that.

  2. What you might not know about…

    White women’s tears

    The undeniable reality of confederate statues…and “rape-colored” skin

  3. What we learned from the dudes who wouldn’t wear condoms: The Dudes Who Won’t Wear Masks

  4. When it comes to food, we already know…

    the best diet for humans

    that global agriculture must be transformed to provide nutritious food to all humans

  5.  Finally, kudos to…

    Penelope Trunk for calling them out: The College Board is Racist

    Professor Kimberly Rather: for sharing her knowledge and pushing us to look closer at Aerosols

    The Pope: he urged all Catholics to drop investments in fossil fuels

    The Badass 50: Meet the Women Who are Changing the World

Peace and joy until next week—

Denise

P.S. If you know others who would enjoy this newsletter, please share this email. All are welcome to subscribe.