Shakespeare and The Quarantine

The Thumb Piano

If you use Google you’ve probably seen the Google Doodle. It appears on the Google homepage. I see it whenever I open a new tab in my browser.

There’s the standard – the Google logo in red, yellow and blue – which is often what we see. But since 1998 there have been many one-day alterations made to the logo. These may celebrate a person, an event, a holiday, or something entirely different.

Today’s Google Doodle is interactive and brilliant! It celebrates an African instrument called the Mbira, from the Shona people of Zimbabwe. You should watch it all the way through. Click on the menu when you’re ready to move to the next image.

I’ve seen a similar instrument in Nigeria. The Australian Museum has a collection of these instruments from several parts of sub-Sahara Africa. The picture is from their website. Their article is good, but not as much fun as the Google Doodle!

Its sound reminds me a little of a harmonica. What does it make you think of?

Racist or Anti-racist?

This afternoon I watched Dr. Ibram X. Kendi talk about racial equity and housing. He was interviewed by Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

The conversation was titled “Racial Equity During and After the Covid-19 Pandemic.” In his Tweet about the event, Kendi said, “We must ensure affordable housing for every single low-income person.”

His responses to Yentel’s questions were in his usual style – straightforward and honest. He stressed the importance of naming the true problem. Racist policies may be cloaked in non-racist language, but have the same result: the lack of affordable housing for low income people, affecting primarily people of color.

He talked about the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on people of color. He announced that the website tracking this just went live today!

I believe it’s Kendi who says our actions are either racist or anti-racist. There is no neutral position.

Yentel asked “What concrete actions can we take?”

He said, “Fight in our own community, where we can have an influence.”

I did look up the person who I remembered working for affordable housing in Westport, as I said I would in my last post. Through her I found and joined the mailing list for Sustainable Westport. But that group is focused on the environment. I don’t know yet who besides TEAM Westport is addressing the issue of housing. According to this article in the CT Post we so have a need here!

I’ll keep you posted.

Let me know if you see ways to take action for affordable housing where you live. Or if you even think we should be taking action!

What to Do During the Pandemic

I admit that it’s tempting to watch the rest of “Grey’s Anatomy” until late at night. And Sam told me he watched the rest of “The Crown” after I left, so I have that to finish too.

But I also have a book to write, this blog, and church treasurer and board duties.

Palm Wine in Stores?

Palm wine is probably the drink that first comes to mind when a Nigerian is asked about a beverage in their country. It is the sap from a variety of palm trees. When fresh it is sweet, but after a few hours it ferments and becomes quite alcoholic. It appears in classic Nigerian literature and is a required element in a traditional Igbo marriage ceremony.

Yesterday I was writing about palm wine in my chapter on beverages in Nigeria. I found this piece about a young Nigerian woman, Daniella Ekwueme, who has started a palm-wine bottling company. She began selling in 2017.

I wrote a paragraph about her in the chapter. Then I found that I was repeating what I’d written many months ago!

Too bad I didn’t remember when I was in Nigeria. I would have looked for her product called Pamii in the supermarket. Next time!

What Did Shakespeare Do?

The AARP newsletter comes out regularly. I look through it and sometimes read an article. It has a humor section in the back.

I loved this quote from singer Rosanne Cash, who said, “Just a reminder that when Shakespeare was quarantined because of the plague, he wrote King Lear.”

Are You Singing?

Do you sing? Are you in any choirs or singing groups?

I miss the church choirs, so I was happy to take part in Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir 6. He composed a lovely piece, “Sing Gently.”

I printed out the music. It wasn’t difficult to sing, but it was difficult to sing well! I’m out of practice and very flat! I listened and sang along many times trying to improve.

Then to record, I had to listen through earphones while I filmed myself.

Getting the video setup right was challenging. I had to stand in front of a blank wall, set up the iPad to watch him, and set up my iPhone at the right height to record! I finally got it all together last night, with a glass of wine to help. I’m not sending you my recording – it was really bad! But I’ll let you know when the whole choir sings!

There are at least 6000 people from dozens of countries who have sent in their videos.

Have you ever joined a virtual choir?