LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Sunday, April 5, 2020

Random Observations & Otherwise

     . . . . Among random observations here, in this time of c19, browsing through the NYPL Overdrive audio biography and autobiography offerings: there are very many books about that sleaze, Sarah Palin. Not a one is checked out. They are all available and undesired by anyone. Just like she is. 

Last night, for the first time in our nabe of nearly 100% white people, there was the evening clap and bang on pans for the heroes of c19.

E V swooned with happiness from his happy meal of black beans and rice. All that work yesterday to get this this old(er) bag of frijoles negroes cooked soft, to make them tasty, was worth it. (I'm trying to use the oldest stuff first, the stuff that was hanging around for months, in some cases).

Accomplished workout -- it was great.  I can't wait to start coaching el V into workouts.  He says he wants to do it.

~~~~~~~~~

And again, downstairs apartment is having a bit of a party. 

~~~~~~~~~~

     . . . .  Not random observation concerning c19.

Quote:It's genocidal. "This country has now deposited its massive, collapsing weight on a small, utterly unsupported group called the “essential workers . . . It’s a curious feature of this virus-convulsed world that the people classified as essential are being treated as expendable . . . Soon, the best measure of how “essential” any group was will be the death count," writes Lili Loofbourow in Slate. As per Yashar Ali's March 29 Twitter thread:
>I don't think many people, including those in power and those with wealth, realize how dire this situation is for so many Americans. The unemployment numbers don't even begin reflect the true horror of what so many are facing.
Tip that cashier when you buy, and tip her/him well. Do a "cash back" and tell them, that's for you.
This is going to be a long hang. We -- and you, if you haven't already had it and recovered -- can't and won't be able to go out, until either a) we get infected, and either 1) recover or 2) don't recover, or b) there's a vaccine. I do hope they manage to keep picking up the garbage, keep the drinking water free of e. coli, etc.
Two and a half weeks since New York City shut down its schools, restaurants, nightlife, and everything else -- at least a week late -- we're still on the rising side of the to-be-flattened curve, shooting up toward the vanishing point on the ascending roller coaster of mass death. A New Yorker is dying of COVID-19 every five minutes. As of Friday night, the NYC death count was 1,867 -- more than a thousand of them in the last week. 15.6% of the police force is out sick. 24% of EMTs and paramedics are out sick. This is still accelerating.

No comments: