The pandemic has broken me
I've talked for years about how I don't watch TV but when I think seriously about this, I realize it's my version of self-delusion; the helmet football, the NBA Finals, even the few minutes each morning to catch the weather forecast, it's pretty clear when you add it all up - I watch TV.
But I don't have many options because I haven't subscribed to anything... until now. Well, I'm not sure, I think I have, because a streaming device was sent to me for FREE last week; it sits unopened under my TV. It's like some weird version of the marshmallow test - get TV now, or get sanity, clarity, and attention span later; I do like marshmallows.
Speaking of the marshmallow test...
A friend sent me a meme (or maybe it was an article) that compared elements of the coronavirus pandemic to the marshmallow test. I think this comparison is fine, it's definitely accurate in many respects, but if I had to pick the classic 'study' that best resembled the 2020 situation, it would be the trolley problem - an existential threat was barreling toward us so we pushed minority communities, healthcare workers, and small business owners onto the tracks to spare the rest; the crash happened far from Wall Street.
Speaking of trolleys...
Not all large operations were saved, with perhaps the most notable exception being the T. What can we do to avoid permanent damage to this critical piece of our city's transportation infrastructure? I still think we need to set it FREE, set FREE the T, which isn't as easy an argument to make as it was in February, but I stand by it. The only thing that's become easier to envision since that post is the funding - you see, I found $845 billion dollars, so maybe we can use some it for our own trolley problem. Of course, if my details are a little too crazy, a little too disruptive for the delicate sensibilities, we can turn instead to Michelle Wu, who advocates for a similar pricing change in much more reasonable language; it's one detail among many in the outline of her mayoral campaign.
Speaking of Michelle Wu...
It's cool to see her in the mayor race and the above-referenced website outlines some serious, urgent ideas that echo my vision for what Boston should be in the coming decade. I think electing her mayor would be a great step forward for Boston, but I am guardedly optimistic about her chances; I don't trust the average American to look at an Asian-American (or any Asian) and see a leader, which is a hunch based mostly on my personal experience. It's not a point worth harping on in the context of this race because Boston will have multiple strong candidates for the role (it already does); however, I retain hope that as America evolves in these coming years, one of its biggest changes is an expanded idea of leadership, such that it encompasses any and all people who demonstrate the qualities rather than the appearances of being a leader.
Speaking of elections...
No, I will not do a 2020 edition of 'Make America Debate Again' - I made my point, then repeated myself for the better part of the last four years; I have nothing new to say. I may weigh in on ranked choice voting, which is a ballot question for the upcoming election, but no promises.
Speaking of promises...
I am unaware of Apple expanding its recycling program, so here is the stat I promised earlier this month, which is based on statistics as of September 25 at 1PM EST:
- Market capitalization - $1.92 trillion
- US population - 328.2 million (2019 estimate)
- Can Apple send every American $2000 and remain a trillion-dollar company?
- YES
Thanks for reading.
In the next month... of True On Average:
1) Be Rooney, not Nani
2) Reading reviews for some old favorites
3) We continue to wait for my favorite word
