Pat Taub
October Surprise
I doubt that anyone anticipated an “October Surprise” in the form of Herr and Frau Trump testing positive for COVID. Will Trump prove to be a super spreader given his close contact with reporters and staff on Air Force One along with the huge maskless crowds he’s addressed recently? This morning on “Democracy Now” Naomi Klein, author of “The Shock Doctrine” warned of the tendency for leaders to exploit a crisis. Will Trump tried to cancel the election? As if we didn’t have enough drama in our lives . . .
Last Outdoors Meal?
Last evening I enjoyed a lovely dinner on Cheval’s patio, a neighborhood Portland, Maine restaurant. As the temps dipped this morning I wondered if that was my last outdoor dining experience for the season. Our waitress related that Cheval will be offering cold weather indoor dining with tables spaced at distance, but I’m not feeling ready to trust eating inside a restaurant.
Katie Porter
Katie Porter, House Democrat from California, is my new Shero for her bold cross examination of Mark Ailes, retired big pharm executive, whose company practiced massive price gouging. Holding up a white board she wrote down figures showing how the drug Revlimid jumped from $215 a pill in 2005 with gradual increases so that today the drug costs $763 a pill with no changes in the pill. Porter armed with the facts was totally badass! She made Ailes squirm when she highlighted his obscene #13 million-dollar retirement package.
“Social Dilemma”
Last weekend I watched the brilliant documentary, “Social Dilemma,” on Netflix. In interviews with former tech executives at Facebook, Google, Instagram and the like, the film exposes the unethical practices of the Internet giants. We learn how they manipulate our personal information to influence our buying habits, social and political views. While Mark Zuckerberg isn’t directly mentioned, he and Facebook emerge as villains. The film raises the question, ‘Has truth gone out the window?”
Mary Oliver to the Rescue
Attaching a Mary Oliver quote that feels appropriate for these challenging times:
“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.”
