12.22 | goodbye shanghai!
When life is happening, design has meaning. In such a world every design that we encounter strengthens our recognition of the value of being alive, of being able to experience joy and peace.
– bell hooks
✉️ letter #20
And just like that... I'm out of here. I've got two suitcases and a cat to carry on the plane with me ASAP. Basically the last week has been a whirlwind of trying to get as much friend time in as I can while working my new job while ensuring that everything I pack is in fact stuff I need.
I'd originally wanted to maybe share some pictures of all the various wonderful people I've been able to spend time with in the city... but quite frankly, it's midnight on the night before I head out and I. am. exhausted.
So watch my video instead! And see you all States-side.
Oh one thing: The omicron variant is currently hitting New York, my soon-to-be new city of residence. Apparently because of the sharp increase in cases, people are getting their booster shots and vaccination centers are packed.
Which could mean that, in order to try to remain covid-free, I might end up hermiting up in my sister's place in San Francisco as I eagerly await my chance for a non-Sino jab. Huh. Is it strange that I'm kinda looking forward to that?
🌱 the ethical ideas newsreel
- I haven't really talked about it on here yet, because besides just being angry I haven't had much to add to the whole Texas attack on abortion. I still need some time to digest (possibly because I'm not in the USA yet). In the meantime, if anyone needs inclusive, judgement-free advice on women's health, this app called Euki is pretty awesome.
- An OB/GYN's tweet asking people to weigh in on how to better the patient experience went viral, with over 3000 people replying. I hope this doctor takes some of the suggestions - more knowledge on care for transgender patients, more pre-exam expectations setting, recognizing that some procedures are painful and don't need to be (!) - to heart.
- When the news gets overwhelming, why not read it backwards? This writer advocates for it saying, "The lesson I learn each time I read the news from newest to slightly less new is that we don’t know shit about shit. Reading the news backward like this is a master class in imagination. It makes space for the question Remember when the conclusions weren’t forgone?" I'm down.
- RIP to writer bell hooks last week. The internet is already being (rightly) flooded with her beautiful quotations on love, so instead I'll highlight a lesser known essay of hers on inclusive design. It's where today's pull quote is from.
🎵 song of my week
This is the sexiest song I've heard in a while.
Rachel Chinouriri is a Zimbabwe-English singer who hails from Croydon. Apparently besides this one single, the only place she's been heard otherwise is on the soundtrack for Michaela Coel's I May Destroy You (which I have yet to watch but I think I need to).
Enjoy this profile of her - one of the few I can find - and enjoy her song Darker Place.
✨enjoying: one final piece of pop culture fun
I have not had time to enjoy a single damn thing all week because I was way too busy! I heard that The Witcher S2 came out and that it's good and I want to watch it very, very much. I thought I would maybe have time today, but I did not. I will have to hope my siblings are as into watching Henry Cavill fight monsters as I am.
So until I do, here's the closest thing to a "piece of pop culture fun" that I've come across.
Meet this cat with a very deep voice.
Wow.
Stalk me on Social Media