Finger cots! And some positive links

[sonia]

Finger cots are individual finger gloves, like tiny condoms. I have a bunch from back when I took a craniosacral class that involves working inside the client's mouth, but I haven't ended up doing that work with people much. These days they're handy for things like using an ATM or store checkout. I looked on Amazon and they seem to be in stock. Not linking because I don't have a particular brand recommendation.


Someone sent me this prose poem that's going around facebook. It fits with my vision about what could happen when we all have to pause, and rest. In the Time of Pandemic by Kitty O'Meara.

And the people stayed home. And they read books, and listened, and rested, ... And the people healed. ...

The Wuhan I Know by Laura Gao, an illustrated tribute to Wuhan as a beloved hometown. "Wuhan Virus", "Chinese Virus", COVID-19. Doesn't matter the name - my hometown will forever be known for that and only that. I drew this comic to shine light on what people don't know: the beautiful culture, rich history, and strong people of Wuhan. 加油! via heylauragao .

I honestly didn't think I'd ever see a photo that looks like this in my life. by Rami Ismail, tha_rami . "The black cube at the center is الكعبة, or transliterated "al Kabaa" (literally: "cube", although the word obviously precedes the English word "cube"). It is the holiest site in any denomination of Islam that I'm aware of."

Viral Hit: Georgian Students In Italy Sing About Coronavirus By RFE/RL's Georgian Service. A Georgian folk song that's familiar to me, with new topical Georgian lyrics in 3-part harmony, conveniently subtitled in English.

The Nordic Secret to Battling Coronavirus: Trust by George Lakey.

Studies show that people in more equal societies have much more trust in major institutions than unequal societies. ... Over and over, structures that support trust pay off, even on the financial side.

The Coronavirus-Proof Nation by Will Doig. "Taiwan has built a pragmatic, solutions-oriented society where democracy is expected to deliver results. Amid the pandemic, it’s paying off."

Gyms and restaurants are open for business and bustle with customers. Schools and offices are operating, and individual movement is largely unrestricted. If China is heavy-handed and America is hands-off, Taiwan is hand-in-hand, displaying an enviable level of civil and governmental synchronicity.

Previous two links via twistedchick.

Comments

Terrific collection

[jesse_the_k]

thank you so much.

Kitty O'Meara's essay is lovely -- I'm spreading that news like a wildfire.

Laura Gao's comic is beautiful. The fact that the central Wuhan landmark, Yellow Crane Tower is 1784 years old brings home how young (and often stupid) our country is.

I've never heard Georgian singing with just three voices. They're excellent -- and there's something about the singing-in-one's-head style that makes them sound like an entire choir.

I even have finger cots!

What a pleasure to see Lakey's name again -- Strategy for a Living Revolution was required reading when MyGuy and I met in a 40-person coop in 1977.

Re: Terrific collection

[sonia]

Yay, glad you liked! Good point about the Yellow Crane Tower, and the USA's youth and immaturity. I listened to Angela Merkel's address (with English subtitles) today and cried. Why can't *we* have a good leader?!

Yeah, those Georgian kids are wonderful singers! I would love to be able to do that as well as they do. Singing Georgian songs in a trio feels really good, too.

Glad to hear George Lakey is familiar, and a good guy. I was muttering to myself about posting all these links from men, where I usually tilt toward women authors without even trying to.

[rosefox]

Thanks so much for the Laura Gao comic. I had no idea Wuhan was a city the size of New York. It makes me realize how much it's been treated as just a foreign name with no context, and I'm glad for the opportunity to learn a little more.

[sonia]

Yeah, I didn't know either! Glad to help spread the info. Laura Gao did an amazing job with her comic.