One for the Books
For most of you, if not all of you readers out there, what we are living through now is literally one for the books.
I've already reviewed favorite books and authors, in previous blogs, but I, for one, spend most of my days reading and writing. And listening to music, always. Right now I feel Tangled up in Blue, while listening to an NPR program called The Score, with Edmond Stone, a host dripping with Englitude (OK, so it's a new word, it fits).
I'll rotate among the multiple choices I have, both on radio and CD's (even some old cassettes). Jazz, blues, rock, soul, and classical. In no particular order; as the mood fits.
Blues tend to be the Mood of the Day, these days. But we all need a pickup (besides coffee and/or, say, weed), a positive attention-grabber, something to become absorbed in, or by. While reading, or writing.
Music. Music is everyone's friend. I have never met a person who didn't like music of one kind or another. Two of my favorite programs on KEXP (which has a global following via streaming) are a show called El Sonido mondays from 6-9 p.m. then World Pop on tuesdays, followed by The Roadhouse on Wednesdays. This station is a literal potpourri of music. From around the world. El Sonido encompasses music from throughout Latin America. World Pop from around the world. Not like music? How could they? There is literally something for everyone. Even country, my least favorite. Actually I may have made such an encounter, but whether in person, a book, a film, or a television show I can't recall). But they are a rarity for certain, and not in a good way.
People who work in the music industry are now (like the rest of us) in Dire Straits (speaking of music). It starts with the performers, of course, but then works it's way down to venue operators, their respective teams of workers, roadies, people in the recording business, and all their related subcontractors, to office workers, distributors, and vendors.
The restaurants have all closed. When will they reopen? Even my barber shop is closed. How long can she manage without income? And a $1200 payment, while nice--no argument about that--can't be repeated indefinitely and is very likely a one-time thing, while of course corporations are being handed billions in bailouts. For most people that was a month's rent or mortgage payment. What happens after that? Seattle has barred foreclosures or evictions. But for how long? How are landlords supposed to survive with no rent coming in? And stereotypes aside, landlords are people too (or corporations. Does anyone recall the old bromide courtesy of Mitt Romney, that 'corporations are people too.'), LOL. And as I mentioned in my previous blog, where is the money going to come from? Even tax collection has been ostensibly shut down. You may dance while the witches burn (to quote myself from my forthcoming novel As Darkness Falls). But that is not going to make a difference, or get us to where we need to go: as a species, the human race, which includes all creeds and colors.
My brother Ed Ayres, a marathon runner and retired Editor of Worldwatch Magazine and Running Times, has just sent a letter to the NY Times about Trump's Biggest Con, which is to convince the American people that victims of government ineptitude and deliberate dismissal, followed by denial of, and new exulting in this new opportunity to sell snake oil. Which millions seem to be buying: that it's really fine to go out, we need to get the economy rolling more than prevent a million deaths or so. Hey, what's a hundred thousand or two, in the greater scheme (scheme being the operative word) of things?
So here's how this snake oil salesman is making his pitch: he is in the process of convincing the American people that those who have 'sacrificed their lives for the common good' are heroes, and should be celebrated as such. Hence comparisons to Vietnam, etc. And of course, the more heroes the better, right?
That, my friends, is far more terrifying than a mere pandemic.
E.C.
I've already reviewed favorite books and authors, in previous blogs, but I, for one, spend most of my days reading and writing. And listening to music, always. Right now I feel Tangled up in Blue, while listening to an NPR program called The Score, with Edmond Stone, a host dripping with Englitude (OK, so it's a new word, it fits).
I'll rotate among the multiple choices I have, both on radio and CD's (even some old cassettes). Jazz, blues, rock, soul, and classical. In no particular order; as the mood fits.
Blues tend to be the Mood of the Day, these days. But we all need a pickup (besides coffee and/or, say, weed), a positive attention-grabber, something to become absorbed in, or by. While reading, or writing.
Music. Music is everyone's friend. I have never met a person who didn't like music of one kind or another. Two of my favorite programs on KEXP (which has a global following via streaming) are a show called El Sonido mondays from 6-9 p.m. then World Pop on tuesdays, followed by The Roadhouse on Wednesdays. This station is a literal potpourri of music. From around the world. El Sonido encompasses music from throughout Latin America. World Pop from around the world. Not like music? How could they? There is literally something for everyone. Even country, my least favorite. Actually I may have made such an encounter, but whether in person, a book, a film, or a television show I can't recall). But they are a rarity for certain, and not in a good way.
People who work in the music industry are now (like the rest of us) in Dire Straits (speaking of music). It starts with the performers, of course, but then works it's way down to venue operators, their respective teams of workers, roadies, people in the recording business, and all their related subcontractors, to office workers, distributors, and vendors.
The restaurants have all closed. When will they reopen? Even my barber shop is closed. How long can she manage without income? And a $1200 payment, while nice--no argument about that--can't be repeated indefinitely and is very likely a one-time thing, while of course corporations are being handed billions in bailouts. For most people that was a month's rent or mortgage payment. What happens after that? Seattle has barred foreclosures or evictions. But for how long? How are landlords supposed to survive with no rent coming in? And stereotypes aside, landlords are people too (or corporations. Does anyone recall the old bromide courtesy of Mitt Romney, that 'corporations are people too.'), LOL. And as I mentioned in my previous blog, where is the money going to come from? Even tax collection has been ostensibly shut down. You may dance while the witches burn (to quote myself from my forthcoming novel As Darkness Falls). But that is not going to make a difference, or get us to where we need to go: as a species, the human race, which includes all creeds and colors.
My brother Ed Ayres, a marathon runner and retired Editor of Worldwatch Magazine and Running Times, has just sent a letter to the NY Times about Trump's Biggest Con, which is to convince the American people that victims of government ineptitude and deliberate dismissal, followed by denial of, and new exulting in this new opportunity to sell snake oil. Which millions seem to be buying: that it's really fine to go out, we need to get the economy rolling more than prevent a million deaths or so. Hey, what's a hundred thousand or two, in the greater scheme (scheme being the operative word) of things?
So here's how this snake oil salesman is making his pitch: he is in the process of convincing the American people that those who have 'sacrificed their lives for the common good' are heroes, and should be celebrated as such. Hence comparisons to Vietnam, etc. And of course, the more heroes the better, right?
That, my friends, is far more terrifying than a mere pandemic.
E.C.
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