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LATE ADDITION, right here, up top...
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Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Jack and the Vox, with uke maven VICTORIA VOX, are going LIVE on the internet with "Songs of THANKS" at 4 pm Pacific / 5 pm Mountain / 6 pm Central / 7 pm Eastern Here are the direct links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/923461997750255/posts/3495097373920025/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuAnQMfPyNY Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/JackAndTheVox
Victoria says: "Bring your pie, pull up a chair, and enjoy the show ;) (The show is FREE and will be under 30 min.) I am thankful for YOU. xo"
Plus, until Dec. 1st, you can get 25% off your entire order at VictoriaVox.com and JackandtheVox.com with discount code: BLACKFRIDAY |
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Here's the edition as originally published...
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What, and who, we can all be thankful for...
"We are not 'first responders.' We're the last line of defense, trying to keep you alive. Please, do your part -- wear your mask, and stay apart until this is over."
~ an ER doctor working in a COVID unit where beds are full and medical staff, constantly exposed to the deadly virus, gets no time off for Thanksgiving.
And... those who work -- nearly all as volunteers -- to keep others from going hungry.
Food bank caravans, with waiting lines stretching for miles, are the 2020 equivalent of Depression-era "soup kitchens." Somehow the stock market can set new record highs, even as poverty expands and at least 13 million Americans face imminent eviction from their living quarters as winter sets in. Across the nation, charitable groups large and small, global and local, mobilized to get a Thanksging meal -- and more -- to those in need.
CBS "Sunday Morning" on Nov. 22nd ran a feature on hunger and poverty, reporting the longtime poverty rate is 18-20% in San Antonio, Texas, and likely higher now with COVID. That really explains the now-famous aerial photo, above, from April, of thousands of cars in columns for the food bank giveaway. But don't dismiss it as "old." It remains representative, of a lot of places in America. And so we encourage those who can to contribute to their local food bank, as we thank all those who do so much to put food on others' tables.
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THOUGHT FOR TODAY from one born on this date
"The best theology is probably no theology; just love one another."
~ Charles Schulz, cartoonist, creator of "Peanuts" (born Nov 26, 1922, died in 2000)
(Thanks to A.Word.A.Day for the quote)
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We decided to reconcile the collision of opposites -- "Thanksgiving" and "2020" -- with a look at what people across the media world are grateful for. That's right after we contemplate the hard facts of the virus that is killing one American every minute, and infecting one more American every second. To anchor all that, we turn to Brian Stelter and his "Reliable Sources" newsletter (with items credited as "RS"):
Coronavirus reality check
CNN's team reports that "the US reported 2,046 deaths Wednesday -- the highest one-day coronavirus death toll the country has reported since early May." The country "also hit a new daily hospitalization record." Here's the latest.
It is awkward to turn from the grim facts of Covid-19 to the annual fun of Thanksgiving – but awkward turns are the reality of 2020...
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What this year's parade will look like
"This year's 94th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be for television audiences only," Variety's Brian Steinberg explains. "There won’t be the normal 2.5-mile parade route or crowds along the way; instead, the event will be tied only to the cameras in front of the Macy's Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street." Basically "the producers are treating this year’s parade like a movie set." Details here...
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Catch a bit of retro music TV in a marathon, through Friday
Don't laugh. Fifty years ago this fall, "The Partridge Family" debuted on TV.
It featured a dazzling array of guests, often in bit part cameos. It is a joy to see who pops up next. Wednesday evening, when the marathon began, future "Charlie's Angels" Farah Fawcett and Jaclyn Smith each appeared in an episode. Costar Ray Bolger from the 1939 film classic "The Wizard of Oz" was the family's mandolin-playing grandpa in a recurring role. An impossibly young, pre-"Star Wars" Mark Hamill was Laurie Partridge's boyfriend. Richard Pryor was cast as a nightclub owner. Jodie Foster was a little girl with a crush on Danny (Danny Bonaduce). Rob Reiner was a burly motorcyclist, just before being cast as Archie Bunker's foil in "All in the Family." Dean Jagger appeared as an anachronistic Old West prospector. Arte Johnson, recently post-"Laugh In," got a suitably kooky part. William Windom played a Colonel Sanders-like character. Richard Mulligan had a part. Bobby Sherman played a lyricist in search of a composer.
The show was influential, beyond its upbeat music. In its first season, Laurie refused to cross a picket line, costing the family music troupe a gig, and developing into a plotline about worker rights and binding arbitration. A pair of 2nd-season episodes brought big issues of the time front and center: the family became activists to oppose the slaughter of whales for an audience that was just becoming aware of it in 1971, while another episode dealt with the plight of Native American Indians in an era when most viewers had a stereotype of Tonto as the extent of their misunderstanding.
Gender roles were challenged when chauvinist Keith (David Cassidy) baked cakes while "liberated" Laurie (Susan Dey) changed the tires on the tour bus. Season 3 (1973) saw Keith flunking sex education when it was still controversial for schools to offer it. The dawning computer age got 10-year-old Danny drafted into the army during the Vietnam war in season 1, and mom's (Shirley Jones) credit unduly ruined in season 3. And there was the time one of the kids got caught shoplifting on a dare, and the power of peer pressure was explored.
Of course the show was mostly about fun with plenty of charming music. Sure, the song lyrics were always silly -- "I'll be your umbrella man, shower you with all my love" is representative -- but dammit, it had a sunny, appealing sound that holds up after half a century and still makes you smile.
Accomplished Broadway actress Shirley Jones was mom to a musical brood of kids, driving a colorful (but deliberately not psychedelic) old school bus as touring machine. Her real-life stepson David Cassidy, cast as lead guitarist and oldest Partridge sibling Keith, became an instant fixture in the teen heartthrob magazines. Susan Dey, as his keyboard-playing sister Laurie, would compete with "Brady Bunch" kid Maureen McCormick as the stay-home-to-watch-her object of young teenage boys' fantasies. And Dey, with her stunning eyes, would go on to grownup stardom as a TV lawyer handling gritty and dramatic circumstances.
David Cassidy died almost exactly three years ago, on Nov. 21, 2017, in a hospital, of organ failure related to alcoholism.
Okay, after enduring this incomparable year of 2020 and just wanting it to be over, no one wants to talk about gritty and dramatic anything.
So the "Partridge Family" marathon, running through Friday night at 7 pm, is just what Dr. Kildare and Dr. Marcus Welby ordered. It's airing on "Antenna TV," included with most basic-tier-plus cable and satellite packages. And in L.A. you really can get it with a digital antenna.
"C'mon get happy."
~ lyrics from the show's theme song.
- Acoustic Americana Music Guide
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Talking turkey
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We can all be thankful for these things
Eviction Moratorium Extended
#COVID19Resources
The Los Angeles County eviction moratorium has been extended through January 31, 2021.
Under the moratorium, tenants may not be evicted for no-fault reasons, nuisance or unauthorized occupants or pets if related to COVID-19. If you have questions, talk to a counselor for... See more
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An even more deadly virus has been beaten
On Nov 18, 2020, the 11th Ebola virus outbreak in Africa's Democratic Republic of Congo was declared over, after six months. Chalk one up for effective epidemiology and good science.
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He begins, "What are you thankful for?"
Stelter writes: I asked a cross-section of leaders across the media industry, from newsrooms to Hollywood studios, to share what they are thankful for, in 2020, the toughest of years. The first person who replied, Associated Press DC bureau chief Julie Pace, took some of the words out of my mouth: "I am thankful for all of the readers who reached out this year with story ideas, thoughtful feedback and encouragement (there are more of those readers than our Twitter mentions might suggest). And particularly in 2020, I am also thankful for wine. 😉" _ Here are some of the other replies, starting with Dean Baquet, The New York Times executive editor:
"I will go personal first. I’m thankful for my family, my wife Dylan and my son Ari. I’m thankful that my brothers and their families in New Orleans have survived the pandemic and storms that visit the city. Beyond the personal, I'm thankful for the First Amendment, this year in particular."
_ Ted Sarandos, Netflix co-CEO and chief content officer:
"Special thanks go to all the essential workers -- in particular in the healthcare and grocery industries -- who've worked throughout this pandemic. I am also thankful 2020 is almost at end -- with a workable vaccine that promises to make 2021 much, much better. At Netflix, we feel fortunate to have been able to provide people with a sense of connection and escape during this most difficult of years." _
Jimmy Pitaro, chairman, ESPN and Sports Content for Disney:
"I'm grateful for my many talented colleagues at ESPN, and to work alongside the exceptional leaders at Disney - all of whom are dedicated to entertaining people during this incredibly unique and challenging period." _
Kara Swisher, contributing opinion writer for The New York Times and host of the "Sway" podcast:
"I know it sounds corny, but I am thankful for my family, especially my three kids. The pandemic darkens the world, but they shine." _
Errin Haines, editor at large, The 19th:
"This Thanksgiving, I feel extremely grateful for my new newsroom, The 19th, which we started in January, and that has thrived and helped to tell some of the most important stories of the year in the middle of a pandemic, spotlighting both the majority of the American electorate -- women -- and centering voices that have too often gone less seen and heard in our democracy. I am also deeply thankful for my colleagues, most of whom I have not yet met in person, and for the culture we are building, focused on equity, representation and journalism that values our lived experiences as an asset and not a liability to the work we do." _
Yashar Ali, reporter and Twitter all-star:
"As difficult as this year has been for so many, I am thankful for how it's brought me even closer to my friends. We are checking up on each other more than we would have before and feel more connected." _
Scroll down for another set of uplifting answers! -- Times Insider spoke to NYT correspondents who have celebrated Thanksgiving outside the US... (NYT) -- Thomas Friedman's latest column: Happy Thanksgiving "to all those who told the truth in this election..." (NYT) -- From Tom Jones and his Poynter colleagues: "Journalists pushed for progress, stood up to bullies and made sense of a pandemic. Here's what we're thankful for this year." (Poynter) -- Most important op-ed of the day: "The Losses We Share," by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, sharing the experience of her miscarriage and reflecting on the human impact of the pandemic... (NYT) |
Giving thanks, from all across the media world
Stelter continues:
Let me pick up where I left off, starting with Margaret Sullivan, the Washington Post media columnist:
"I'm grateful for all the local journalists who have toughed out a brutal year and done such vital work for their communities, especially covering Covid. And, although I lost two close friends this year, I’m grateful that my family is doing well, especially my son and daughter. As ever, I’m grateful for editors who catch our mistakes, improve our prose, and write great headlines. You know who you are! Also, I’m thankful for the ever-changing beauty of Central Park, for the sanity-saving Down Dog app, and for the miraculous reopening of Sido, the hole-in-the-wall Lebanese joint that I depend upon."
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Susan Glasser, The New Yorker staff writer and CNN global affairs analyst:
"I am thankful for the First Amendment, our dog Ellie, and the Internet in our house, without which we would not have been able to get through the pandemic while still covering all these crises."
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Suzanne Nossel, CEO, PEN America:
"I am thankful that the deafening din of cynical ranting, sneers and denigration are beginning to fade from our airwaves, social media feeds and headspace. In its place is a quiet that can allow us once again to think, communicate, solve problems and look ahead without having to first drown out the clangor. Even better, humane, public spirited, reasoned and idealistic voices are making themselves heard not just with passionate outcry, but as leaders pointing the way. It's like the feeling of stumbling out of a terrifying haunted house to rediscover that the sun is shining."
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Eric Bolling, anchor, Sinclair's "America This Week:"
"Adrienne and I lost our son a few weeks before Thanksgiving, 3 years ago, so it's a tough holiday for us. I am thankful for this: an opportunity to show support for each other regardless of our political persuasions. I hope to be able to reach across the aisle and respectfully debate and discuss politics. If that's possible, I would be very thankful for that."
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Mehdi Hasan, Peacock host:
"On the media front, I'm thankful to Jonathan Swan and Chris Wallace for showing us in 2020 -- perhaps four years too late -- that it is possible to hold Donald Trump to account in a TV interview. At home, I'm thankful for a roof over my head, as we lock down in our homes, and as an evictions crisis beckons for millions of Americans."
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Sewell Chan, Los Angeles Times editorial page editor:
"I'm thankful for the introspection and conversation that the national reckoning with racism has prompted. However painful it has been at times, the reckoning has surfaced essential and long-overdue conversations."
Alex Salvi, One America News anchor:
"This year I'm thankful for the persistence of a diverse group of journalists in an evolving industry — those on the streets during protests, in the newsroom during difficult conversations, or their living room amid a global pandemic — that showed resilience in the face of what was perhaps the most consequential year in modern history. Also, 'Folklore' by Taylor Swift."
Giving thanks for health
I saved the most succinct message for last. This one is from Norah O'Donnell, the "CBS Evening News" anchor, sent on deadline for Wednesday's broadcast: "My family's health!"
Hopefully all of you reading this can relate, and hopefully all of your families are doing well during this agonizing period of the pandemic. The Stelter family -- just me, Jamie, Sunny, and Story -- will be cooking and celebrating on Thursday while Zooming and Skyping with loved ones up and down the Northeast Corridor. Jamie wrote on Instagram about being a "first time Thanksgiving maker" and said she's "treating this year like practice! Gonna perfect that turkey and yams for all the future thanksgivings..."
(-RS)
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FOR THE RECORD, with more perspectives on Thanksgiving
-- Jason Gay loves writing his annual "Rules of Thanksgiving Family Touch Football" column. This year's pandemic version is "Rules for Zoom Thanksgiving..." (WSJ)
-- "With the holiday season upon us, now is a good time to take a breather and consider a digital detox," NYT's Brian Chen writes. "No, that doesn't mean quitting the internet cold turkey. No one would expect that from us right now. Think of it as going on a diet and replacing bad habits with healthier ones..." (NYT)
-- CNBC's Steve Kovach tweeted this "upside to a quarantined Thanksgiving: At least this year you can just hang up on the Zoom call with your crazy uncle..." (Twitter)
-- By Kerry Flynn:
Al Tompkins asks: "Will journalists be considered front-line workers for COVID-19 vaccines?" (Poynter)
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-- By Lisa Respers France:
Amanda Kloots reflects on her first Thanksgiving without Nick Cordero...
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On this week's Reliable podcast: The science of lies
This episode is timely for anyone dreading tense Thanksgiving conversations with family members. What is the allure of misinformation? What are the reasons why people believe lies, and what does it take to change their minds? I asked cognitive psychologist Briony Swire-Thompson, a senior research scientist at Northeastern U's Network Science Institute, and she shared insights from her research. Plus: How Trumpism has changed her field of study. Listen in via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, or your favorite app...
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Feeling better about staying apart this holiday weekend
Amidst all the headlines... here's a powerful one from the
Mississippi Free Press:
"After Big Thanksgiving Dinners, Plan Small Christmas Funerals, Health Experts Warn..."
Story here.
(-AAMG)
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-- Here, James Hamblin has "answers to every possible pandemic-Thanksgiving question..." (The Atlantic)
(-RS)
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Keep this in mind
This guidance from CNN producer Virginia Langmaid is very important for t -- Here, James Hamblin has "answers to every possible pandemic-Thanksgiving question..." (The Atlantic)he days ahead: "While Covid-19 case numbers are expected to rise in the weeks after people gather for Thanksgiving, statistics reported in the days right after the holiday will likely show a dip, followed by a surge in cases. This will reflect government agencies’ lag in reporting over the long weekend. Similar patterns were seen after July 4th and Labor Day, and given coronavirus’ incubation time and how long it takes someone to test positive, cases related to Thanksgiving are unlikely to start showing up in public data until the first full week of December at the earliest."
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-- A Texas nurse who resigned her position spoke to Craig Melvin and talked about how "misinformation and disinformation is killing us..." (MSNBC)
-- As disinfo spreads online, it is seeping into classrooms too. Here's how teachers are tackling the new challenge it is posing... (Education Week)
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parting pleasantries
PanDAmonium, instead of panDEmonium
Spotted at the giant panda protection and research center in Aba, Sichuan, China. (Photo: TPG/Getty Images)
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Stay healthy, stay safe. This will all be over and we can brag about how well we came through -- if we don't get reckless in these final days of great risk.
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On mobile devices, click "view web edition" to bring-up the left side bar with navigation tools and direct click access to all recent editions, month-by-month archives to everything this year, and each previous year since we moved to Blogspot.
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in this new world of the improbable unknown...
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