Between Covid and the Olympics where do I start? Let’s start with the easiest, Simone Biles. To me it’s simple; this woman, athlete, and national treasure has the right to take care of herself and the rest of us can just get over it. As the world is aware, she withdrew from two Olympic events to take care of her mental health. She stated she had the “twisties” which is not an uncommon feeling for gymnasts, but it does feel as though she lost control of her body in the air. The pressure of the Olympics also left her shaking and unable to sleep. She made the decision to step away instead of pushing through. But in true GOAT fashion, she stayed and helped her team. She supported and cheered for her teammates. She also took up the mantle Naomi Osaka started by taking care of her mental health. I for one support, especially women embracing the “No.” Additionally, Simone through Twitter this week thanked her fans for their love and support. “The outpouring of love & support I’ve received has made me realize I’m more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before.”
Yes, she is more than her gymnastics accomplishments, just as all professional athletes are more their accomplishments. More than our entertainment. More than their performance on “any given Sunday.” So, with all the mid-90’s gusto I can muster: Simone, You Go Girl! We love you and your health is more important than your participation.
Delta Don’t Play
The Washington Post reported: “The delta variant of the coronavirus appears to cause more severe illness than earlier variants and spreads as easily as chickenpox, according to an internal federal health document that argues officials must “acknowledge the war has changed.” The document is an internal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention slide presentation, shared within the CDC. It captures the struggle of the nation’s top public health agency to persuade the public to embrace vaccination and prevention measures, including mask-wearing, as cases surge across the United States and new research suggests vaccinated people can spread the virus. The document strikes an urgent note, revealing the agency knows it must revamp its public messaging to emphasize vaccination as the best defense against a variant so contagious that it acts almost like a different novel virus, leaping from target to target more swiftly than Ebola or the common cold. CDC scientists were so alarmed by the new research that the agency earlier this week significantly changed guidance for vaccinated people even before making new data public. Washington Post: The war has changed’: Internal CDC document urges new messaging, warns delta infections likely more severe Covid is still a thing everyone! I will admit to enjoying a few mask free outings after getting vaccinated. But because I am adult that is over now. I have to adjust and put on my big girl pants. In that vein, Biden announced a new policy for on-site government employees that they have to show proof of a vaccination or submit to regular testing. The Feds employ over 4 million people, so this will be interesting. Also, more state governments, hospitals and companies are requiring vaccines. So, while there will be many debates on this issue and all the adults will squawk about their rights, it will be important to keep in mind: there are 4 vaccine-eligible children in Arkansas on ventilators. In Arkansas, Children’s Hospital reports 24 kids were hospitalized on Wednesday alone. Seven are in the ICU. About half were eligible for the vaccine, including all four on ventilators. This is the other side of misinformation and in some cases, stubbornness.
Oui Love Comics
“The French government launched a smartphone app that gives 300 euros to every 18-year-old in the country for cultural purchases like books and music, or exhibition and performance tickets. France’s teenagers flocked to manga (comic books and graphic novels). “It’s a really good initiative,” said Juliette Sega, who lives in a small town in southeastern France and has used €40 (about $47) to buy Japanese comic books and “The Maze Runner,” a dystopian novel. “I’m a steady consumer of novels and manga, and it helps pay for them.” As of this month, books represented over 75 percent of all purchases made through the app since it was introduced nationwide in May — and roughly two-thirds of those books were manga, according to the organization that runs the app, called the Culture Pass. The French news media has written of a “manga rush,” fueled by a “manga pass” — observations that came via a slightly distorted lens, since the app arrived just as theaters, cinemas and music festivals, emerging from pandemic-related restrictions, had less to offer. And manga were already wildly popular in France.” New York Times: France Gave Teenagers $350 for Culture. They’re Buying Comic Books. This is a very cool idea. While the article points out, that comics were not the intended focus, who cares. Culture is far more than museums, ballet and operas. Not to mention you gave them money in a pandemic so could they really use it for its ‘intended’ purpose. Either way, it’s an interesting program.
Exit Strategy?
“New Zealand, Iceland, the UK, Tasmania and Ireland are the places best suited to survive a global collapse of society, according to a study. The researchers said human civilisation was “in a perilous state” due to the highly interconnected and energy-intensive society that had developed and the environmental damage this had caused. A collapse could arise from shocks, such as a severe financial crisis, the impacts of the climate crisis, destruction of nature, an even worse pandemic than Covid-19 or a combination of these, the scientists said. To assess which nations would be most resilient to such a collapse, countries were ranked according to their ability to grow food for their population, protect their borders from unwanted mass migration, and maintain an electrical grid and some manufacturing ability. Islands in temperate regions and mostly with low population densities came out on top.” The Guardian: New Zealand rated best place to survive global societal collapse Not sure how many Black people live in these places, but scoot over, because here I come. Just kidding, I’m American, we don’t believe any of these things will happen and if they do we’ll be fine.
The Culture Commentary 