First Post Of The Year

 As I’m trying to study, and my online pdf insists in shutting down, I decided to write. As it’s almost 2021 (now it is,) it’s expected a review of this year we’ve been through, 2020. Unique for my generation, and to others might be, also, but then what? What more can I write than this walkabout virus? Nothing much, as this was the covid19 year. 

Things don’t stop there - oh, if it was the last time we’ve heard about it... I wish. We all wish, I guess. What to expect then? That it should probably keep contaminating for a long time, as vaccines won’t be available everywhere, for everyone. Well, if they’re really effective at all.

This year is the debut for the new king of the world in US; millions of people trying to get on their feet again after last year’s jobs collapse, and the year “Nevermind” hits its thirtieth birthday (I needed to comment that.)

Nothing more on my mind (some people are saying this 2021 is gonna be the 2020’s reprise,) I believe we all should hold on tight, and prepare for it. We are expecting the Olympics games, but not so sure it’s happening anyway. Imagining a world without covid in 2021? Well, maybe in the year after. And in 2022? Maybe in the year after...

Just Waiting

picture by Jason Stadtlander

Covid19 put the world on a hold, and nobody knows for how long. If you take ebola spread in Africa, 2017, highly contaminating, which took three years to ease, well, we are doomed. Kidding. Anyway, it interfered in so many ways in peoples lives, that's difficult to pinpoint everything. In my case, probably the most simple, I just wanted to travel a bit, but I refrained from that obviously, and I'm waiting to be reimbursed from all costs.

And this topic makes a bit of sense, considering the amount of stress we are bearing. Travel to near destinations is ok, people notice that, and are going here and there. Going on a trip the way it used to be, it's gonna take a while. What can I do? I'm not in a rush, because there are so many norms and regulations for you to obey that I'm fine just where I am. 

Let this just pass. One year, two years, it's ok for me, I'll save money then. Meeting friends, and family will make things easier for me - although not recommended still. I dont think it's a bad idea, after my own "quarantine," as I was indoors to recover from medical procedure - not related to covid19, lol! 

Considering currency in Brazil devalued a lot more than other countries, yes, this is one reason not to travel internationally for a while. Things have gone awry here, but soon gonna get back to normal. Not so soon, not the way they were in 2019.

It gives me time to plan ahead, to observe, to get to know my surroundings, and to prepare for a new world ahead. It's so funny Hollywood have already "covid movies" in the making. It seems they are ahead of me, oh, they are.

 

Sorry No Internet Today

Using technology too much can lead to anxiety, and it can distract us from our usual daily life, I believe everybody knows that. So, during this pandemic situation, which I'd been confined at home for a while, it got harder for me to focus on studying. What I decided to do next was a "detox day" for technology.

What I found out, after watching this video, that it is quite strange to quit everything we are used to. It is wow, so weird! Watching all sorts of content on my tablet all the time, then, zero, none. The video calls out for a new dopamine fix on things that are not enthusiastic anymore. That's what I needed. 

With nothing to do, I got time to read the news on paper, and to stay quiet for a while. Enjoyed the silence, like that song.

By the end of the day, when I thought it was all too boring, I decided to flick through some pages of a magazine. Then something became clear: I just noticed how the colors, the designs, quality of the paper, facts all there was quite fun. I thought it was interesting again to read a magazine. Something I don't do anymore, neither go to a newsstand!

The next day I woke up with no need to turn on the radio whatsoever. So strange still! Haha. Later at home after work, I studied a bit, without stressing - too much, I may say -, over this. I managed to sit down and to watch some classes on video (alright, online classes, but what one can do?) I noticed I felt detached from the rush of excitement provided by information, memes and gossip. Maybe I'll do this again next week : )

Lebanon's Definite Moment

picture: unknown artist

I remember during the Chilean protests, probably, in October 2019, there were spreading news about other demonstrations around the world. One of them was in Beirut, Lebanon. People took the streets to complain about corrupt politicians and surge in mobile phone tariffs (I heard of!) Right now what we see is much worse. Even people who have seen war say this doesn't compare, because they wouldn't know how they could die.

It's been a month and two days since the blast at the Beirut port. The residents of the Lebanese capital went on the streets to protest once again, and this time they said "enough." Turns out living here in South America makes you a bit alienated; the situation has been bad for long in Lebanon. Corruption, mainly, led lots of people to the streets in October last year, as I mentioned before. So in April 2020, a currency crash, and coronavirus lockdown made people furious again. Now this. 

We see countries' situation getting bad often when there are politicians who not let the power go. In this case, Hezbollah leading party, let the corruption spread out, and serves as an Iran influence in the region. Demonstrators are trying to set new elections so they can have a change, and they deserve it more than ever. 

While writing this, I remember I watched a few Lebanon movies that competed at the Oscars. Then I noticed that almost every year we see a Lebanese movie standing out for awards. It makes me sadder to realize we won't watch new movies, if the country goes deeper in this spiraling crisis.

I Don't Care, Care If It's Old

Art: @thebutcherbilly

People are talking about the new Batman movie on the internet for a little while. What really caught my attention was the Nirvana song on it. It's one of my favorite bands of all time, and when big media wants a part of it, you know it's something big. 

I mean, Nirvana is kinda mythical to be employed everywhere. Since Courtney Love intruded on the rights to use the band's catalog, not even the former members were able to use it anymore. There's "Cold Case" TV series which put a whole set of Nirvana songs on one episode to give a feel of the 90s. At that time, it really blew my mind, it felt special!

This new trailer rekindled that sentiment in me. If only Nirvana tunes were heard everywhere, maybe it didn't feel special at all. Then there's this "Batman" movie coming out, and a Nirvana song in it (at least in the trailer,) which really mixed well with the scenes. I thought it was pretty cool indeed! I didn't quite like the trailer itself though - oh, man, another Batman movie - but the song brought a new all perspective to it. 

I believe I'm ready to watch this Matt Reeves' film. I actually don't know what Kurt would say about this, and I'm not a fan of nostalgia. However, considering Nirvana as a favorite, it is all good then!

Stocks Dilema

     picture: Daniel Haller

I've been trying to imagine why stock markets everywhere have risen, while people struggle to keep it together in the middle of the pandemic. Lately I've been listening that US have poured money on big companies, and this made an effect of keeping the value of US financial markets at a high note. Also, that it's not, at first place, an economic downturn. Part of society still have money, and they are saving, however, slowly they are spending again, and buying stock.

Apparently, that last statement makes sense, I reckon. I used to live in Australia during the last world economic recession, and we saw a abrupt stall of things there. The large amount of the population had their jobs, their savings, and only the most vulnerable would feel the shock. The thing is, nobody wanted to spend anything. Australia wasn't impacted by the recession much. If you had saved then, you could have moved on with your life.

I don't remember how the stock markets reacted over there, back in time. Nevertheless, at this time around, stocks all over are thriving, bit by bit, at least. In Brazil, the stock place has gained momentum and it is on the way up again. Experts believe that prices are being rearranged, and finding their best stock price. That it is the reason the Brazilian financial market, which is on 102.000 points, is not yet at their last level, at 130.000 points.

Some part of the media dedicated some time to try to explain this low level dilema. It sure did call my attention, I am no newbie to economic crisis, but I didn't make use of this moment to profit, unfortunately. If you are new to economic crisis, our time has passed away. The lowest the stock markets have got was the best chance to be successful on the stock exchange. When you are at it, however, you feel you could get stuck there indefinitely, but I was wrong, maybe lots of people too. The stocks rebounded and they are almost at their best again. Ok, see you at the next global crisis, see ya!

Here, a Hand Towel

As US passes the number of 100.000 cases of deaths related to Covid 19, some laboratories say they are on the brink of finding a vaccine. We all want this really much to happen, but it is not easy. What we have for sure is our faith to masks, sanitation and distancing. Some speculate around which medicine is best to take for the treatment. Hydroxychloroquine, interferon beta, remdesivir etc Not sure what is or what is not appropriate.

Since the beginning of the virus crisis, I would often pay attention to its spread rate, what would you do to avoid being contaminated, and the pathogen characteristics. I knew from the start it feels like a cold, and only this, for 80 per cent of the population. Twenty per cent would get ill, and five per cent in between would get really bad.

In my case, I didn't fall sick (considering I've been already exposed to the virus) and not the ones related to me. Through this scenario, I also became aware different regions in the world react differently to the virus. And there are the countries most visited by foreigners, or most cosmopolitan, and all of that. Lots of variables to think about.

What is easy for me to perceive is the longer you stay safe, the better for you. We all know testing is hard at the moment, even more for developing countries, because tests are expensive. Brazil (where I'm talking from) is testing way lower than other countries (three thousand per million,) even neighboring ones, like Uruguay, are testing more (ten thousand per million,) as of last week of May, 2020.

Staying positive is good for you, but better than that is to follow simple guidelines. Sneeze or cough on your bent arm (even wearing face masks,) wash your hands or use alcohol gel, and distance yourself enough from others. In case you feel you are not that healthy at the moment, consider self isolation, which is hard. Nevertheless being cautious is already quite good for everyone. Staying outdoors is less risky than indoors, according to this youtube video.

Oh, and there's the global economy... Oh, man