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81

The Culture Tent / Re: In the New Yorker...

« Last post by serious crayons on May 19, 2020, 12:15:10 pm »

How did we manage to get articles by my favorite Jill Lepore in two consecutive issues, May 4 and May 11?

For that matter, how does she manage to write them between writing books and being a history professor at Harvard and winning top awards like the Pulitzer and the National Book Award?

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The Culture Tent / Re: In the New Yorker...

« Last post by Jeff Wrangler on May 19, 2020, 10:03:43 am »

How did we manage to get articles by my favorite Jill Lepore in two consecutive issues, May 4 and May 11?

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The Culture Tent / Re: In the New Yorker...

« Last post by serious crayons on May 18, 2020, 06:28:43 pm »

I've never heard of Nextdoor.com. Is it new?

Heartthrob? Uh, no. ...

Yes! I've seen several articles to that effect. Here's one from The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/04/anthony-fauci-coronavirus-crush/609544/

I can kind of see it. Of course, he's no Sam Elliott, but he's personable, knowledgeable, seemingly honest and has a cute accent.



Nextdoor.com has been around 5-10 years. It's a site where you can exchange information with your neighbors, and those in adjoining neighborhoods. Sometimes it's very useful, like if you're looking for a good painter or your dog is lost or you're wondering what all those sirens last night were about.

Other times ... less so. Like scoldy threads that go on for hundreds of comments about whether people should wear masks when walking outside (even on the almost deserted streets of my residential neighborhood).

The site is national (though you can only sign up for areas around your own address). In your living situation, it might not be as useful. Though maybe you have something similar in your condo building itself.

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The Culture Tent / Re: In the New Yorker...

« Last post by Jeff Wrangler on May 18, 2020, 06:13:39 pm »

In the last year or so, I've seen a small uptick in nature-related articles. And there's even been an article or two about agriculture! Will food related articles looking at the production side become common? It could happen! Who knew New Yorkers would become interested in the farms that supply them?!

I vaguely remember one article about the farm-to-table movement, and people doing urban farming. But I seem to remember that the farm-to-table movement was described as a First World kind of thing.

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The Culture Tent / Re: In the New Yorker...

« Last post by Jeff Wrangler on May 18, 2020, 06:08:33 pm »

Unsurprisingly as I was less personally affected, I don't remember him from that. But similar thoughts were expressed by a guy I know on Nextdoor. com -- a gay man, really intelligent, one of the few sensible voices when the Nextdoor discussions get loony.

I've never heard of Nextdoor.com. Is it new?

Have you heard that Fauci is considered kind of a heartthrob these days? Practically up there with Sam Elliott in the (very small) hot geezer club. And you probably heard (or saw) that SNL cast Brad Pitt to play him.

Heartthrob? Uh, no. ... I heard of Pitt's portrayal.

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The Culture Tent / Re: In the New Yorker...

« Last post by serious crayons on May 18, 2020, 04:20:30 pm »

In the last year or so, I've seen a small uptick in nature-related articles. And there's even been an article or two about agriculture! Will food related articles looking at the production side become common? It could happen! Who knew New Yorkers would become interested in the farms that supply them?!

I've always wondered how New Yorkers -- i.e., most of the national media -- write about things ordinary people experience around the country. Like, what if they wanted to do a story about organizing your garage? Or for that matter, landscaping your yard?

But I bet news stories related to the production side of food production will become more and more common as meat supplies dwindle. At my grocery store, customers are limited to four meat products. Which is at least better than the one skimpy roll of paper towels you're allowed.

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The Culture Tent / Re: In the New Yorker...

« Last post by Front-Ranger on May 18, 2020, 01:31:50 pm »

In the last year or so, I've seen a small uptick in nature-related articles. And there's even been an article or two about agriculture! Will food related articles looking at the production side become common? It could happen! Who knew New Yorkers would become interested in the farms that supply them?!

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Chez Tremblay / Re: Corona - what does help you? Your fears, thoughts, everything

« Last post by brian on May 17, 2020, 09:26:39 pm »

While I was typing, the 1pm news conference was held. There was an item last week that the 1pm news conference has replaced the sports report for everyone. More people are back at work and schools returned today so numbers watching are probably lower now. Anyway no new cases in NZ today. We had 3 days with no cases then sadly a 4 year old boy yesterday.

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Chez Tremblay / Re: Corona - what does help you? Your fears, thoughts, everything

« Last post by brian on May 17, 2020, 09:00:19 pm »

Haircut done and I feel much better. Usually you just walk in and wait no more than 10 minutes except during school holidays which I avoid but not possible in January.
I arrived at 10 am and was told I had to book now but got a booking for 10.45am I went and had a coffee at Muffin Break nearby in the Food Court and wandered around the Mall.  I actually got a free coffee (every 5th one free). I usually go there about 3 times per month. The only person wearing a mask in the Food Court was the lady cleaning tables and I saw her scratch her nose once. The girls cutting hair had masks but not the girl on the desk and the girl cutting mine pushed hers off her face so she could talk. She has cut my hair before and she did a good job. I gave her a $10 tip, we rarely tip in NZ, they get good wages. I am not sure during lockdown but the government provided 80% wages to all employees who were unable to work and it was up to the employer whether they would make it up or not. I do not usually chat much but did today as I told her I lived alone and had not seen any of my friends for 7 weeks. Have not had a phone call for over a week now. I do talk on skype with my sister in Sydney every morning.
My area - the South of the South Island (25,500 sq miles and 340,00 population) has not had a new case in 29 days and only 1 remaining at the moment. I think the whole of NZ (just announced we have reached 5 million people due to so many returning home) has only had about 5/6 new cases in the last week and 96% of cases have recovered (21 died). I just hope we are not relaxing too early. I kept my 2 metre distance while walking around the mall except, of course, with the hairdresser.
Restaurants opened last Thursday. I have only been to cafes for coffee and cake. You sign in (as at the hairdresser). Groups cannot be more than 10 and tables are more spaced than normal so that groups are at least a metre apart. Bars are opening next Thursday but people have to be seated to be served, no standing around.
Our Prime Minister Jacinda and her partner were turned away from a cafe on Saturday morning as there were no spare tables but then the manager chased them down the street because a table became available. Said he had done the same for other people. Cannot imagine that happening to Trump. Jacinda's partner, Gayford, said it was his fault in not booking.

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Chez Tremblay / Re: Corona - what does help you? Your fears, thoughts, everything

« Last post by serious crayons on May 17, 2020, 06:40:00 pm »

Wow, that's kind of daring compared to how buckled down NZ was recently. You can't cut somebody's hair from six feet away.

Hair stylists here are not yet permitted to return to work. Nor are restaurants, which is sad because a lot of restaurants are closing permanently.