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To keep the Conversation going, please help me by linking news articles, opinion pieces and other political content in today's Comments section.

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OR here's a link generator. The one I had posted died, then Akhilleus found one, but it too bit the dust. He found yet another, which I've linked here, and as of September 23, 2024, it's working.

OR you can always just block, copy and paste to your comment the URL (Web address) of the page you want to link.

Note for Readers. It is not possible for commenters to "throw" their highlighted links to another window. But you can do that yourself. Right-click on the link and a drop-down box will give you choices as to where you want to open the link: in a new tab, new window or new private window.

Thank you to everyone who has been contributing links to articles & other content in the Comments section of each day's "Conversation." If you're missing the comments, you're missing some vital links.

Marie: Sorry, my countdown clock was unreliable; then it became completely unreliable. I can't keep up with it. Maybe I'll try another one later.

 

Public Service Announcement

Zoë Schlanger in the Atlantic: "Throw out your black plastic spatula. In a world of plastic consumer goods, avoiding the material entirely requires the fervor of a religious conversion. But getting rid of black plastic kitchen utensils is a low-stakes move, and worth it. Cooking with any plastic is a dubious enterprise, because heat encourages potentially harmful plastic compounds to migrate out of the polymers and potentially into the food. But, as Andrew Turner, a biochemist at the University of Plymouth recently told me, black plastic is particularly crucial to avoid." This is a gift link from laura h.

Mashable: "Following the 2024 presidential election results and [Elon] Musk's support for ... Donald Trump, users have been deactivating en masse. And this time, it appears most everyone has settled on one particular X alternative: Bluesky.... Bluesky has gained more than 100,000 new sign ups per day since the U.S. election on Nov. 5. It now has over 15 million users. It's enjoyed a prolonged stay on the very top of Apple's App Store charts as well. Ready to join? Here's how to get started on Bluesky[.]"

Washington Post: "Americans can again order free rapid coronavirus tests by mail, the Biden administration announced Thursday. People can request four free at-home tests per household through covidtests.gov. They will begin shipping Monday. The move comes ahead of an expected winter wave of coronavirus cases. The September revival of the free testing program is in line with the Biden administration’s strategy to respond to the coronavirus as part of a broader public health campaign to protect Americans from respiratory viruses, including influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), that surge every fall and winter. But free tests were not mailed during the summer wave, which wastewater surveillance data shows is now receding."

NPR lists all of the 2025 Pulitzer Prize winners. Poynter lists the prizes awarded in journalism as well as the finalists in these categories.

Wherein Michael McIntyre explains how Americans adapted English to their needs. With examples:

Beat the Buzzer. Some amazing young athletes:

     ~~~ Here's the WashPo story (March 23).

Back when the Washington Post had an owner/publisher who dared to stand up to a president:

Prime video is carrying the documentary. If you watch it, I suggest watching the Spielberg film "The Post" afterwards. There is currently a free copy (type "the post full movie" in the YouTube search box) on YouTube (or you can rent it on YouTube, on Prime & [I think] on Hulu). Near the end, Daniel Ellsberg (played by Matthew Rhys), says "I was struck in fact by the way President Johnson's reaction to these revelations was [that they were] 'close to treason,' because it reflected to me the sense that what was damaging to the reputation of a particular administration or a particular individual was in itself treason, which is very close to saying, 'I am the state.'" Sound familiar?

Out with the Black. In with the White. New York Times: “Lester Holt, the veteran NBC newscaster and anchor of the 'NBC Nightly News' over the last decade, announced on Monday that he will step down from the flagship evening newscast in the coming months. Mr. Holt told colleagues that he would remain at NBC, expanding his duties at 'Dateline,' where he serves as the show’s anchor.... He said that he would continue anchoring the evening news until 'the start of summer.' The network did not immediately name a successor.” ~~~

~~~ New York Times: “MSNBC said on Monday that Jen Psaki, the former White House press secretary who has become one of the most prominent hosts at the network, would anchor a nightly weekday show in prime time. Ms. Psaki, 46, will host a show at 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, replacing Alex Wagner, a longtime political journalist who has anchored that hour since 2022, according to a memo to staff from Rebecca Kutler, MSNBC’s president. Ms. Wagner will remain at MSNBC as an on-air correspondent. Rachel Maddow, MSNBC’s biggest star, has been anchoring the 9 p.m. hour on weeknights for the early days of ... [Donald] Trump’s administration but will return to hosting one night a week at the end of April.”

 

Contact Marie

Email Marie at constantweader@gmail.com

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Friday
Dec242021

December 25, 2021

No technical difficulties yet because I can't even find a suitable template for the "updated" Reality Chex. Too bad I don't want my very own Wesbsite to boast about my uncoming wedding or my impressive CV, because there are plenty of templates for that.

Meanwhile, some TV station is playing "Home Alone" on a practically continuous loop. So sometimes in the commercials of a show I'm watching I'll switch over to "Home Alone," and today I caught the bit of the film that features this:

My father used to sing us this one at Christmas time. Thanks to Patrick for the link:

If you want to take a short breather from the festivities, lock yourself in your study and play the Washington Post's "Find the Elves."

Comments Off

Reader Comments (6)

Too dang cute, Marie! All the best to you and all the RCers…I so appreciate you all! Love and happy Christmas!

December 24, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterJeanne

Joan Didion's death this week brought back my connection with her via all her books and journalism that I coveted. We came from different spaces but I connected with her in so many ways. Here's the NYT's piece on her life and letters:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/24/opinion/joan-didion-books.html?referringSource=articleShare

I join Jeanne in wishing everyone here good cheer and hope for a better year.
And Patrick: I used your video to send out to those I knew who would appreciate a bit of whimsy in such a cold climate.

December 25, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterP.D. Pepe

A little doggerel is good for the (mine, anyway) soul.

Merry Christmas to all RC'ers, an especially warm one to Marie, who has (so far) made it possible for all of you to become my valued friends.


Covid Christmas, 2021


‘Twas the week before Christmas

And all through the house

The virus was lurking,

Getting ready to pounce.


Presents were purchased,

The bills were all paid,

The food was all ready,

Christmas plans were all made.


Christmas Eve would be here,

With Ben, Luke, Maya and Sloane,

First, dinner, then presents

All ripped open at home.


Then Christmas Day in Seattle

For more Christmas joys

Shared with Gus, Ria, Kaia,

And the two lively boys.


But things do go awry,

Murphy’s Law never rests,

This year the universe gave us

An Omicron Test.


Maya picked it up somewhere;

She contracted it first

And perhaps gave to Anne

As a case, not the worst.


A sore throat and some mucous,

Some coughs and some sneezes

A disturbing annoyance

That sure didn’t please us


The testing was constant,

Every day it would seem

We were swabbing our noses

‘Til we wanted to scream.


So much for the planning:

Now all in a cocked hat.

No gathering together

It’s over; that’s that!


But I think of my grandmother

Now long in her grave

And some words she has left me

Are a gift I have saved.


When misery beckoned,

She responded to strife,

Saying, “If you don’t weaken,

It’s a great life.”


Well, we weakened a little,

I’ll admit from the start.

Christmas means a lot less

When we’re all far apart.


Now Luke has the virus

But no one’s very sick.

We’re at least getting by.

(Grandma was right)

The bright side’s the trick.


We can count on each year

To bring something new

This year it was Covid,

Saying “Merry Christmas” to you.

December 25, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterKen Winkes

@Ken Winkes: Your poem is terrific. I hope you read it to the family. You probably should record it. I would give it its own page if not for the family names in the poem.

December 25, 2021 | Registered CommenterMarie Burns

Thanks, Marie, and to my longtime mentor, Dr. Seuss, who gave me far more than the meter...

December 25, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterKen Winkes

Ken: Loved your poem–may all the kids kick that can of viral vitriol and emerge brand new. And high-five to your grandmother!

December 25, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterP.D. Pepe
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