Corned beef, cabbage and COVID-19
Two years on, it's hard to grasp how much we altered our lives, and how much we need to do better next time.
Thoughts for the day
We have a St. Patrick’s Day tradition of getting our corned beef and cabbage at a favorite restaurant we have enjoyed for years, and are looking forward to doing the same tonight.
That tradition makes it very easy to remember where I was in 2020 when the nation shut down. We had just finished our meal when we were asked if we wanted another beer, as the restaurant wasn’t going to be open for a while. Word had just come down from the governor on the plan to shut down.
Back then, it was “two weeks to slow the spread.” Obviously, it became a lot more than that. Some states, like my home state of West Virginia, got back to something resembling normal much earlier than others. Even now, two years later, many are wrestling with how to get back to normal living with COVID variants still present.
Many have lost faith in the public institutions that are supposed to protect us, yet we also must be prepared for the next crisis. I think we generally accepted two weeks, but I said two years ago officials had a limited amount of good-will credit to spend, and it’s spent. Along the way, too many seem to have lost their grip on common sense.
In retrospect, it’s hard to grasp how much we gave up, and how next time, we need to do better. The last two years are a lot to digest, and there are no simple solutions, but together, we can get there.
For now, I look forward to a little “food of my people” and raising a glass of Guinness. Sláinte!
The Six
No. 1
The Hill with Five COVID-19 challenges on the two-year anniversary of the pandemic.
No. 2
Russian forces remain stalled and the Ukrainian defense remains strong as the war enters its third week, according to the Pentagon. Citizens have destroyed equipment and inflicted an unexpected number of casualties in defense of their country, Stars and Stripes reports.
No. 3
If you were pulling for the New Zealand couple who believed they had dug up the world’s largest potato, bad news. Guinness World Records ruled it is not in fact a potato, but actually a tuber of a gourd.
No. 4
Reuters reports Amazon says it has closed an $8.5 billion deal to buy MGM, the studio behind the "Rocky" and "James Bond" franchises.
No. 5
NPR with The truth in political advertising: 'You're allowed to lie' No kidding. Not a surprise.
No. 6
Do you share your Netflix password? The company has encouraged that in the past but has decided it will start cracking down on the practice. The company said password sharing among its 222 million subscribers is "impacting our ability to invest in great new TV and films for our members," according to NPR. Netflix isn’t planning to ban the practice but is testing an additional share fee in three overseas markets.
Quote of the Day
"Unfortunately, you're allowed to lie." — Tom Wheeler, former chair of the Federal Communications Commission under President Barack Obama, on political advertising.
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About
Christopher Six is a passionate advocate of community journalism with more than 30 years in the media, corporate communications and marketing. An award-winning designer, columnist, illustrator, photographer and newsroom leader, he is a respected voice in journalism ethics. A veteran reporter, he has created and taught news writing seminars for community colleges and the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.
Editor’s Note
Pick Six is published most Mondays-Fridays. Sharing of stories does not equal endorsement, however, personal thoughts and commentary on those stories are 100 percent my own.