I've had ice cream almost every day since the pandemic began.
Maybe that's too much. I don't know, I'm not a doctor. But it felt right at the time. Every time.
I've been running too. And as much as I sometimes hate it, exercise has been a habit of mine for a long time. It feels wrong if I go too long without doing something positive for my health.
And if there was ever a time to get serious about our health, this is it, right? I'm not talking about hoarding sanitizing wipes in the hope that we can avoid the inevitable. I'm talking about our immune systems. What are you doing to prevent the other problems that are possible way, way in the future?
I've always been one to point out when a stand-up comedian makes sense and today is no different. The late George Carlin has been floating around social media recently because, back in 1999, he had a stand-up special called You Are All Diseased. Yikes. He joked about our obsession with germs and cleanliness in his classic curmudgeonly way, and reminded the audience that our immune systems need practice fighting germs. He clarified, "And never mind ordinary germs, what are you gonna do when some super virus comes along that turns your vital organs into liquid shit?"
Luckily, we're not there yet, but he had a point. We're fighting the problem in front of us now, but we were caught with our pants down by not preparing for worse.
As a doctor, I see this all the time. We've relied too much on a way of life that's rarely tested. It's the reason why these half-brains across the country can't imagine life without a haircut for a few months. It's all they have and it's all they've ever had.
And while people are paying attention to '99 Carlin, they might have also wished they heard about Nassim Taleb. In 2007, Taleb wrote a book titled The Black Swan. He coined the term to describe those improbable but catastrophic events that plague civilization. But Taleb recently told The New Yorker that he has been "irritated" with the misunderstanding of his work. While no one, including Taleb, could have predicted a virus that won't let us buy groceries without looking like a bank-robber, he argues the systematic threat was there all along. The Black Swan is a warning about the vulnerability, not invincibility, of our interconnected world. We thought the system could always take care of itself. And then, all of a sudden, toilet paper was ripped from the shelves.
Our interconnected world has always been a blessing and a curse. While it may be the reason for our progress, we left too much trust in the illusion of a fail-proof system. What we needed all along was a bit more stress, a bit more exercise.
Let's not rush back to "normal". Let's make sure that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Stress-test the system in every way. And, in the meantime, eat some ice cream here and there.
Enough of that, lets' check out some of the best stuffs from the past week:
By far, the most interesting YouTube video I've seen in a while: How Documentaries Lie to You.
A friend recommended the Chinese YouTube sensation Liziqi and I couldn't be more pleased. Her videos feature poetic glimpses into her unique chores and tasks. One of my favorites was Fear not the harsh winter with the cloak made from soft and fluffy wool - her journey to weaving a purple cloak out of lamb's wool, from start to finish.
I rarely miss a Nerdwriter video. Recently, he published How Marvelman Changed Superheroes.
Run the Jewels released their latest music video for Ooh LA LA. Give it a listen and a look.
Need some satisfying video content? Watch a girl carefully trim her horse's hair.
Until next time...