it's the latest edition of 

The Recommentunde Newsletter

Sent on 12 May 2020 Edition

Hello you.

It's me. 

For a long while many of us who seek justice joked that what it would take to truly bring the world together or even the different peoples of the United States, was an alien invasion. We just needed an Other big enough to make our current other part of us. A slime-dripping, destructive, hybrid mechanical-biological life form, maybe with tentacles, would do just the trick.

Instead we got COVID-19. As Others go, it’s pretty alien and very much not Us. The virus doesn’t even have opposable thumbs, so there was a chance that this global threat of an Other could unify our various others into a bigger Us. There are of course examples of this happening all around the world. 

But here in the United States the bigger story feels like the weaponization of our differences to further the divides between Us and Them. Last week, I felt that divide more than usual. The combination of Ahmaud Arbery’s murder, the impact borne by heavily immigrant meat industry workers, William Barr undoing General Flynn’s confession, NYPD stomping black people while handing out masks to white people, the clear sign that COVID-19 is killing more black people and many of our leaders so flagrantly not giving a damn. Plus the president.

Well, that all struck me as a lot and a missed opportunity to unify in the face of the alien invasion the universe has gifted us. Instead, we spent our energies over generations making sure the aliens would disproportionately hurt certain people, then we used those people as human shields when the aliens arrived, then we blamed those people for being so exposed to the alien threat, then as the aliens are ravaging parts of our world, we said, “Phew, So glad we dodged that alien invasion bullet! Go Us!” 

During this past Sunday’s Live On Lockdown taping, I went on an unplanned riff about this topic. It’s 13 minutes of fire in which I talk my way into a devastating conclusion. One I knew before I began. They. Don’t. Care. 

And now for your regularly-scheduled content in these irregular times.

COVID-19 Took Black Lives First. It Didn’t Have To.

Investigative piece by ProPublica

How and why has the virus has hit the black community so hard? A mix of pre-existing conditions (aka structural racism) and cultural factors (high connectivity) have caused outsized pain. ProPublica does an excellent job telling human stories, not just listing numbers for the dead.

Ric Wilson & Terrace Martin - Move Like This

Music Video on YouTube

Chicago isn’t just home to crippling, multigenerational violent social policies that hurt black people. It’s also home to Chicago house music, and I got this track from Chitown’s Ric Wilson. It’s music for the block parties that probably will happen on Zoom this summer. Stream Ric on all the services!

Join my Patreon by end of May for a special offer

An offer from me for you

With the inability to move about the country and move crowds severely cramping my business model, I’m inviting you to join my updated Patreon. Through May, anyone who joins or upgrades to at least $10 per month will get a personalized, weird, fun video message from me. These funds help make Live On Lockdown which has forced me to learn more about Adobe products than I ever thought possible. Also cables. So many cables to buy.

White Man Carries A TV During His 2.23-Mile #RunWithMaud To Make A Point About Ahmaud Arbery’s Killing

Article in Blavity

This is some solid ally behavior right here!

JR and team reach 5,000 meals a day

Video on Instagram

Weeks ago I interviewed JR about his Paris meal program. Then they were at about 3,000 meals per day with a goal of 5,000. They just reached their goal, and are continuing on to surpass it. I used the word SURPASS! 

Listen to me in Art Of The Hustle podcast 

A podcast episode with me!

My friend Jeff Rosenthal has a podcast with iHeart, and we talked for about an hour about many things. I tried to keep it all the way real with him so you may hear previously undisclosed epiphanies. Yes, I just gave you an epiphany warning! Listen in your browser, on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. 

The Man From The “Double Rainbow” Viral Video Has Died At 57

Article in Buzzfeed

Double Rainbow was one of the first really popular videos online. Seeing it takes me back to a simpler, less Nazi internet. I’m sad to share that the joyous voice behind that love-bomb of a video, Paul Vasquez, has died. 

University of Minnesota epidemiologist stresses patience: ‘Things are going to get worse, not better’

Article from KIMT (Southern Minn. news station)

Dr. Michael Osterholm is the virus hunter that shifted my consciousness on this entire pandemic. We listened to him on March 11, likely our last flight of 2020. So I always listen when he speaks, and this article captures his honesty, steadiness, and a wee bit of hope. 

Sarah Cooper on Twitter: “How to testing… “

Video on Twitter

She’s back. Sarah Cooper is here to help our mental health with this short, effective, funny video.

Why It’s Important To Push Back On ‘Plandemic’—And How To Do It

Urgent read from Forbes

A friend told me about “Plandemic” last week. It’s a pseudoscience film masquerading as a factual documentary exposing the alleged lies of Anthony Fauci and the entire scientific community’s response to COVID-19. It is convincing nonsense and lots of savvy people are moved by it. If you have someone in your life, including you, who finds Plandemic convincing, read the link above. If your time is so very limited, read this one and lovingly share it with others who bring up this misinformed and dangerous piece of media as a credible source of information. 

Yes, I’m on another podcast

My voice in your ears

This time it’s an Inc. magazine show called Book Smart. They ask entrepreneurs about the books that helped shape them, and I chose Illusions: The Adventures Of A Reluctant Messiah, by Richard Bach.  Listen in your browser or on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

The Bailout Is Working — for the Rich

Infuriating article in ProPublica

ProPublica should change its name to “You Gone Be Mad After This.” Here’s the short version: the federal government has been behind the ball, inconsistent, inadequate to the task of protecting the American people, but it’s firing on all cylinders when it comes to protecting capital and the riskiest, wealthiest investors. We keep not learning this lesson, people.

The Rich Really Do Pay Lower Taxes Than You

Opinion piece in the New York Times

“The American economy just doesn’t function very well when tax rates on the rich are low and inequality is sky high. It was true in the lead-up to the Great Depression, and it’s been true recently.” Thanks for the link Stuart.

Wuhan orders fresh coronavirus tests for all 14 million residents

Actual news from parallel universe

Some governments actually try to protect their people. I wonder what that would be like. 

Survivors On The Parallels Between Polio And Coronavirus Epidemics

Article in NPR

Turns out that parallel universe is us. Here’s some historical perspective from the Polio days, and the article features the voice of Ina Pinkney who is basically an unofficial co-editor of this newsletter for all the dope links she sends me!
 

bear sits next to guy

Short video. Exactly what the title says. 

SIGNING OFF

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