Privilege Blog

Stories For Us And Truths For Those Who Don’t Know Them, Or, Saturday Morning at 8:40am

So let’s first enjoy something for all who need escape, a balm, and some peace, and then we can hunker down with additional thoughts for those who (this week) have stomach, capacity, and intent for the task before us. You choose what you want or need.

Balm

Two TV shows to recommend. The first is a simple, old school, high energy with charismatic lead and supporting actors, shining example of a digital narrative you can’t wait to lose yourself in. The Pitt, in its first season on Max. Archetypal medical drama, done spectacularly well.

Noah Wyle in The Pitt, in scrubs with a stethoscope around his neck

And yes, that’s Noah Wyle from ER, and he grew up nicely.

The second is a clever, modern comedy–with real, quirky characters in real shapes and sizes played by endearing actors–and another archetypal story, i.e. saving the world from aliens. Except this time one of the aliens can’t help but help the humans.

Alan Tudyk and Sarah Tomko of Resident Alien

Three seasons on Netflix now–with a fourth predicted to arrive on SyFy by the end of this year–it even has a great name: Resident Alien. Laughing out loud is so good.

Tools

As I understand social media, supporters of our current president are using talking points from their favorite media to ward off the truth of what’s going on. As it happens, living in my blue bubble, I know none of these people personally. I thought some of you might have a wider circle than I, so below are a few talking points of truth to drop into discussions if the opportunity arises.

    1. The Associated Press is being blocked from the White House pressers because they won’t use Gulf of America. Is this the free press you want?
    2. Head of CPAP, Matt Schlap is again accused of sexual assault on a young man. Why doesn’t the Republican Party cut loose its wrongdoers like the Democrats do? (i.e. Robert Menendez of New Jersey)
    3. If your community is believing the stories about “USAID waste,” this might be useful. Even Elon agreed he made a mistake. Moving fast, breaking things, and making corrections has a completely different impact on a programs that help keep people alive than it does in a tech startup of mostly men mostly right out of school
    4. The reality of what Elon’s staffers are doing in the US Treasury’s system is far more complex and risky than Republicans/DOGE first let on
    5. As reported in 2003, the amount of Social Security paid to dead people is a tiny percentage of the program’s benefits, not worth the cost incurred in the case
    6. Your beloved National Park may be at risk
    7. Some Republicans in Congress are starting to push back. You won’t be alone if you change your mind. And you certainly won’t be alone if you think you didn’t vote for Elon Musk and you don’t like what he’s doing.

For comfort or strength, community is the thing. Reach out and have a wonderful weekend.

Pearls And Crabbing In The SF Bay Area, Or, Saturday Morning at 9:36am

My husband and I have begun crabbing. Or, more precisely, we’ve begun to try to crab. This is perhaps not something you expected to hear. First we drove across the hills to the Pacifica pier, to scope out the action. Waves were high and white-laced and wild. Christmas morning we returned, prepared now with crab snare and bait. I was excited by the prospect of fierce seas, seafood and the sea green of my watch cap against the purple fleece vest. Little things. But the pier had been closed. Part of the Santa Cruz wharf had recently washed away, and

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Drink That Ginger Tea For The World, Or, Saturday Morning at 9:01am

Let’s leave the world aside for a minute. In the last days of the era the Gregorian calendar (Wikipedia tells me it was first introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582) calls 2024, I am thinking that even if I had heard nothing of world or national events this year, I’d still have learned something. It’s kind of embarrassing to write, so, a few data points first. In the peer grief counseling volunteering I’ve done, often times people just want company–the sound of someone else’s voice, the shape of someone else’s face. In the years since my mom died, although in

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