The Finger 20210529
Memorial Day Weekend Edition
May 29, 2021
It’s a rainy three-day weekend, why not a Finger?
I no longer want to have my pulse on the finger of America, but I want to make sure we still have a democracy, or at least prevent evil Republicans from taking over by force or cheating.
So, next time expect some rallying for voting and campaigning for this year and especially next year. Remember January 6, 2021.
Here’s what I am reading, watching, and listening to.
This morning, I read this excellent piece on usatoday.com written by Bradley Jacobs, from the Sheekey Daily Read, Newsweek, and US magazine (and Family Equality Council)
Funny thing, when a college friend told me I had my finger on the pulse of America, I usually got my facts from USA Today, especially the Nielson ratings, to make my own little newsletter. Don’t really remember sharing that with others, but I think I did. Just via mailed photocopy, not by email. It was the eighties.
I’m not sure that it’s The End of Lockdown, but my anxiety level is lower, maybe a little too low. So far the only plans we’ve made is to travel to Washington DC when Maria finishes school. We will stay there for 4 days and visit my sisters Rita and Trudy in Maryland for 3 days. Then we will be at Bradley Beach in NJ for four weeks, me just on long weekends. Jim and I are fully vaccinated. Maria has one dose, and will get her second dose in 2 weeks.
I’m fine with wearing my mask on the subway, at work, and in stores. Starbucks lets you choose if you are fully vaccinated, but I choose to mask inside there. I’m surprised, but encouraged, that most New Yorkers still wear their masks, even outside on the streets. I’m enjoying not wearing it outside. I am also not wearing it at the gym. Masks really make treadmills worse than they already are. At Barry’s Bootcamp today, I had to provide proof that I was vaccinated before I could take the class. There were not a lot of people there, and I chose the first class of the day. Maybe the “red room” is cleaner at the beginning of the day than in the middle. The classes are not as full as they used to be pre-pandemic. Two men chose to work out with their shirts off today. One as soon as the class started.
I am trying to take it slow and I keep looking at the NY Times for stats. I’m not ready to visit relatives in Pennsylvania because their rates are worse than NYC. All staff had to be back to work at the New York courts this week. So far no reports of any worker with coronavirus this week. Maybe we will not have to wear a mask at work if there are no more coronavirus cases among the staff. I ate at an indoor restaurant on May 22, 2021 for the first time since March 2020. I survived and will try it again on May 30. I don’t feel like I missed much. It was great to see some vaccinated friends in person and give them a hug.
In case you have not been following the news in Western Michigan, check out this article about porn and parents: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2021/05/09/michigan-parents-ordered-pay-destroying-sons-porn-movies/4981964001/?gnt-cfr=1
I will subscribe to get you the full text of the article. Email me if you want to know more.
Or just listen to Dan Savage’s synopsis and reaction: https://www.savagelovecast.com/episodes/760#.YLLmVi1h1qs
I can get you an MP3 of the Savage Lovecast show, if you have trouble with the link. It’s available on most podcast platforms.
I’m obsessing over Netflix’s Big Mouth, the cartoon about puberty. It’s getting better and crazier, with even more raccoons. It also does a really good job explaining passover and Florida.
I also love discovering songs I never heard before on Apple Music, but sometimes I have to find them on youtube. Here are good and strange ones:
Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On by Edwin Starr
Here Comes The Sun by Nina Simone by Nina Simone
Toast & Marmalade For Tea, produced by Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees
I have nothing from the Sheekey Read, because I unsubscribed.
Nevertheless, I highly recommend watching the Britney Spears Saturday Night Live from 2000, featuring a spoof on Angelina Jolie (and her brother) on Colin Quinn’s Weekend Update:
If you like tall muscular blondes, you’ll want to watch Britney dance to one of her hits songs with some backup dancers, while she wears a microphone:
Be safe. Keep Democracy alive.