“The truth may be puzzling.
It may take some work to grapple with.
It may be counterintuitive.
It may contradict deeply held prejudices.
It may not be consonant with what we desperately want to be true.
But our preferences do not determine what’s true.”
― Carl Sagan
While writing the COVID-19 update previous to this, I remember feeling as though 2020 couldn’t possibly deliver a blow that hadn’t at least crossed my mind during some hour within one of these endless days within this endless year.
We’ve entered into a time that resembles far too much other eras experienced throughout history – with, of course – a pandemic raging at the heart of it. The world teeters economically, politically, and socially, wondering how we emerge – a global society standing agape, glued to screens filled with new horrors and fears.
It feels as though we’re trapped within the liminal space between sleep paralysis and waking; that despite our most dedicated work and frenzied warnings, we’re unable to form the words or movements to secure what matters most.
But we’re also the same people who never heed the odds, who display the best of humanity in the darkest of times, and who’ve survived every difficult moment before this; a very “The spirit of her invincible heart guided her through the shadows” type people. (Quote by Gabriel García Marquez)
And in that spirit, let’s carry on, shall we?
Your dose of hope
The UK’s has awarded the animal equivalent of their most prestigious award for bravery (the George Cross) — to a giant African rat, for clearing 141,000 square metres of land and uncovering 39 landmines and 28 items of unexploded ordnance during his career.
…speaking of good animals…
And finally: take 30 seconds, watch these birds in flight, listen to the sounds, and deeply exhale, knowing that indeed some constants do remain:
https://nancyhanks.tumblr.com/post/617768118424616960
Hope you enjoyed the above content. Now, please, buckle up for takeoff.
News you need to know
As the President of the United States remains a COVID-19 patient at The Walter Reed Army Medical Center, his supporters (who are largely without masks) gather outside, waving flags and words of encouragement.
President Trump isn’t the only GOP politician to receive world-class healthcare in the same country where citizens have died in their chairs at home because they kept getting turned away from the doors of hospitals. Chris Christie also checked himself into a hospital following his COVID-19 diagnosis.
The rapid spread of the coronavirus among the leaders of the free world is astounding, to say the least. (Although I’m certain Charles Darwin would argue otherwise).
There are serious, long-term, global implications with regard to the standing of the United States throughout the world – and dire consequences inside of the U.S.
Within two hours after the first presidential debate,
Americans began searching “how to apply for Canadian citizenship” and “how to move to New Zealand.”
According to Google Trends, the rankings for those terms went from zero to a score of 100 – which is the maximum value attributed to rankings.
And it gets…more interesting. The infection rate throughout America is once again skyrocketing, and there still isn’t a solid testing mechanism in place.
Over the weekend, multiple states reported infection levels not seen since spring.
Despite the above facts, states with GOP leadership – or in the case of Michigan, a GOP controlled legislature – have decided that now would be a great time to start removing mask mandates. See: Mississippi.
Also missing from the essentials list to beat COVID-19: contact tracing. The White House hasn’t requested assistance from the CDC for contact tracing, instead saying they’ll rely on someone within the White House. At the time of this publication, the name of that person is not yet known.
WH spokesperson Alyssa Farah stated, “there is an “in-house epidemiologist” who is doing it, following CDC guidelines.”
And it’s not just the U.S. dealing with a fall spike of COVID-19 cases:
Meanwhile, the world continues to respond in roller-coaster-ish real-time to the events as they continue to unfold.
But, the show must go on – and you can buy a piece of history to prove you lived through it.
Quote of the day
“Blind belief in authority is the greatest enemy of truth.”
― Albert Einstein