today and tomorrow/June 30

Dahlia Lithwick

Supreme Court

If you're interested more deeply in the recent Supreme Court decisions, I recommend listening to the podcast Amicus hosted by Dahlia Lithwick.  She and her guests have insights and opinions that extend the conversation beyond what you hear on the news.  

Bonnie (I'm so excited about having lunch with her in Greek Town today) sent an invitation to join the summer sessions of Art Encounter.  It features Contemporary Black American Artists.  I'm emailing.

For my friends who are traveling in their imaginations, I'm emailing another notice from the Discoverer.  This one covers Belfast.

today and tomorrow/June 29

Lori, our gal with the amazing videos from every corner of the internet, has another one.  I know, I know, you've read about the pryamids before.  But, I think you will be fascinated by this.  I'm emailing.

Margaret, my historian friend, send me a notice of a Webinar on Authoritarianism and Democracy with Noam Chomsky and Margaret's friend, Van Gosse.  It's tonight.  I'm emailing the link.

I had a delightful taste of life in the neighborhood yesterday.  Ate outdoors at Taste of Heaven with my wonderful friend Lisa.  If you're looking for help fighting the lockdown bulge, check her out at My Private Trainer.  "I'm having fun devising totally personal plans for my clients.  Each one is unique,"  she says.

today and tomorrow/June 28

Gerry's new blog (which I am emailing) showed a coin buried in a sidewalk to illustrate a point he makes about perspective.  He surmises that the coin had probably been dropped before the cement dried.  That took my mind wandering far afield of Gerry's thought but close to what I've been concerned about these days.

The sidewalks in my childhood neighborhood were stamped with what today we would call a logo: The WPA.  That stood for the Works Progress Administration.  It was part of FDR's massive effort to bring us out of the Great Depression.  If the private sector had no jobs, the government would supply them.  Repaving the sidewalk on my street put someone back to work.

And today? The Freakonomics Radio podcast currently has an interview with Andrew Yang.  He discusses his signature idea, a universal basic income.  He also talks about other ways to address our crisis. 
Other experts discuss the future of work.  The show also contains another segment: No Stupid Questions.  I like that perspective.

today and tomorrow/June 27

My friend Sophie is doing some terrific journalism for the National Catholic Reporter.  Her latest piece uncovers the added pain of people who had to cancel their pilgrimage trips and now are fighting to get refunds.

"Dynamic Catholic shouldn't be making their decisions based on other tour companies. I think Dynamic Catholic should say 'This is our obligation. We're a Catholic company and should have a higher moral standard.' "

—Corky Thompson

read the article at ncronline.org

The Atlantic

I'm so glad I subscribe to this magazine.  They have figured out how to survive with both print and digital journalism that is engaging and compelling. Also,  I love following their lists of movies, books, etc.  I'm emailing.

today and tomorrow/June 26

Carole, who lives in Mexico City, sent this vivid account of the earthquake.

“Riding out earthquakes seems to have become a norm while living in certain parts of Mexico.  This last one didn’t shake me up much at all (pun intended!) though. It was the wavy kind, instead  of the deadlier up and down type. Tuesday morning around  11am the distinctive alarm went off here in Mexico City.  I rushed down the stairs of my third floor apartment in Roma Sur and into the street with all my neighbors.  We stood there while trees started swaying in tune with the hanging lamps inside.  Literally, “the earth moves under your feet,“  but for different reasons than Carole King expressed in her song.  Standing there we reminisced about earlier quakes before making our way back to our individual abodes and our Covid routines.

    A friend commented to me about living in a city where quakes seem to occur frequently, to which I replied, “Well, I lived 10 years in remote quiet Mexican  beach, and there I had to worry about earthquakes AND hurricanes.”  It’s always something, you know.”

Lori's son, who lives in Aspen, sent her a ticket to the Aspen Ideas Festival.  It, of course, is virtual.  From June 28 to July 2.  You can find it easily and see who is featured.

Nancy, our Third Coast Review producer,  writes about robots in her journal.  Interesting.  I'm emailing.

Today and tomorrow/June 25

Worth Every Extra Mile

If you are a senior with an expired driver's license I recommend going out to the DMV in Lombard.  I know, it's a stretch.  I've been using that location ever since in lived in Elmhurst.  It was never crowded, the people were extra friendly, and -- best of all -- the driving test is a cinch because it is in a quiet neighborhood with no traffic.

I was put off by the long line in front but I decided to give the senior entrance a try and I was not disappointed.  Whenever I was in a line, a friendly person escorted me to the front.  The whole procedure took about 45 minutes!  Trump may be trying to kill me, but Jessie White knows how to treat us and bravo for that!

Summertime Here and There

Riccardo Muti is conducting a series of outdoor concerts in Italy this summer.  Maybe he always had that on his schedule but I'm still sad that Italy knew what to do and we still don't.

today and tomorrow/June 24

Stay Away

From time to time I’ve been forwarding fun travel information because I know so many of my friends are imagining their next trip when the nightmare goes away.  Well, we may have to scratch Europe from our dream list.  The European Union is contemplating banning Americans from travel to EU countries.  We are too infected.  Too dangerous.  

Oh well, aren’t you glad now for Brexit?  London and the UK may still be available.  Limited I know. But better than nothing.

Just in Time

Look what just showed up?  It’s a preview of all of the places in North America where Road Scholar has lined up trips for 2021.  Of course, I am emailing.

Statues

Now that statues everywhere are coming down, I asked myself who would I like to see put on the empty pedestals?  We could use some women.  What do you think?