Wednesday, May 6th, 2020
Woke up to yet another grey and rainy day! And yet another day working from home stuck inside due to the persistent rain. Fortunately it clears up a little bit towards the evening so we can at least take a walk around the Hood.
The Hood is springing into action to save local businesses. In addition to Hood delivery by Taime, Shouk and Dellabara, Golden House and Aracostia (great Afghan restaurant in Palisades) have been added as pick up options. After restaurants we are now diversifying into groceries. From Rodman’s curb side pick up, to supporting local winem bakery and coffee delivery, there is now an initiative to jointly order at least 150 boxes of either fruit, vegetable or diary products and have costal sunbelt deliver all boxes to a central neighborhood location.
The Listserv, which always makes for good entertainment, is full of lovely e-mails thanking whoever is leaving painted rocks all around the Hood. Am very tempted to have EM do one too. There is now a suggestion to start a knitting competition to provide knit ware for trees, I learn this is called yarn bombing. That is maybe taking a it a bit too far. I do understand that with cancelled sports activities and so on people have more time on their hands, but so much time as to knit stockings for trees? Also, I am not sure the trees will find it enjoyable. I think we will give that one a miss. Also, where would one get all that yarn from? On the other hand, if it continues to rain and rain and rain……
At least the rain leaves plenty of time for reading. I am almost done with Invisible cities, which I did not enjoy much as all of the cities described are completely nonsensical. Towards the end it becomes clear that they are all related to Venice somehow, but I am too much of a realist to be able to connect the 149 pages to my memory of Venice light, smell and sound. Given I forgot to confirm the titel to the book club we have now moved the meeting by a week. The ofrecast calims it will be sunny at 27C, so maybe we can have a socially distanced book club meeting in the garden rather than via Zoom.
Continued to read the news of course. I rather liked this thought piece on how the current pandemic can either make for a wore or better world. Seems youn g Europeans overwhelmingly believe universal income is a good thing (+ve), but belive democracies are not able to address cliamt change (-ve). What is really cool is the “self-interview feature”. It takes a little bit of prep time, but I think I will absolutely do it.
And then there is a tangible act of kindness: What a beautiful gesture by Banksy to donate a piece of art in recognition of what hospital staff are currently doing while at the same time providing funding. I do think the world needs more of those. Like the comments on the posts of the FB group “View from my Window”. Because so many random people find kind words for strangers it is uplifting to read. I am still upset that the organizers have discontinued new posts since April 29th, 2020.
Corona of course continues to dominate the news of the world. Today the world reports 3.74 million infected cases and over 260k deaths. US papers discuss various studies predicting increases in projceted dead and infected over the coming months. They only vary in the numbers which are somewhere between 100-300k.
Otherwise the public discussion has moved on to wearing masks: yes or no? and should it be mandatory? While most of the world seems united in having people wear masks in public until further notice, people in the United States -again – are viewing it “unconstitutional” (which by the way it is not) and supposedly inhibiting their freedom. In good American tradition legal action has been taken and people are already suing state goverment orders to wear masks in public. The fact that no one in this country administration appears to have the ability to lead by example also does not help the agenda. First Pence, now Trump. Well, I have news for all anti mask wearers: you are potentially killing those around you. Why are people so inconsiderate? And frankly, if you end up shooting store staff for being asked to wear a mask before entering a shop, your freedom definitely comes at someone else’s life. Also, as the owner of a shop, would it not be their freedom to choose whom they allow to enter? So, if someone wants the freedom not to wear a mask, any service provider should gave the freedom to deny service, and that includes entry to any premises, including shops.
And like defunding the WHO during a pandemic, abolishing medical insurance for millions is similarly idiotic. It is all about ideology, not about sense.
I feel truly sorry for Americans and am grateful for the benefits my employer awards me and for not being American.
09.05.2020 16:48
Zig
Just came back from CVS for our medicines. Young couple buying flowers and cards for Mothers Day. Only ones not wearing masks or even trying to cover mouth. What a gift they will give!