Do you ever just feeling so wildly overwhelmed by the state of the world you just want to lie on the floor screaming?
This morning, the new IPCC climate report was released and honestly, I have it open in my browser but I cannot bring myself to read it. I’m just not sure I can mentally take it. Luckily I regularly have approximately 20+ tabs open so it’s essentially out of sight out of mind. After almost two years of a literal fucking pandemic, that is still ongoing due to the inability of governments to step up, I don’t know that I physically can read a report on how desperately we need governments to step up before the planet just implodes. It’s not necessarily encouraging.
It’s not encouraging that our so-called environmental government bought a pipeline. It’s not encouraging that just a few weeks ago, provincial politicians in Alberta got all up in arms because a few opinion columnists said “hey, maybe pickup trucks aren’t that great!” It’s not encouraging that the NDP government in BC is actively destroying old-growth forests. We’ve had several days in Ottawa with air advisories because there are so many fires!! The world is literally on fire!! And I’m being yelled at to use reusable grocery bags!!!
[screams into a pillow]
Ok, I’m back. Just had to get that out.
On top of all this, as I said we’re still living through a pandemic despite governments’ best efforts to pretend everything is back to normal. This pandemic has also emphasized the issues of homelessness, horrific wage inequality, right-wing conspiracies such as QAnon coming to the mainstream, vaccine hoarding by countries such as Canada preventing those in the global south from being vaccinated, and so much more. It’s so much! Everything happens so much! So I’m probably going to wait to read the IPCC report. For a while. Or maybe I’ll just get the highlights from Twitter. Sometimes global catastrophes are best ingested via memes. I hope you all enjoyed my stream of anxious consciousness.
What I’m Listening To:
Rick Westhead on the Blackhawks | The Steve Dangle Podcast
CW for the episode: discussion of sexual assault
When I first started this newsletter, my plan was to keep it fairly hockey-free. I figured I talk about hockey enough in my day-to-day, on Twitter, on Real Gud Pros, that I didn’t really want to talk about it here as well. I do have other interests. I swear. But the story that Rick Westhead (and Katie Strang) are reporting on out of Chicago is too important to ignore. Which seems to be exactly what mainstream sports media is doing. I’m glad Steve and co. had Rick on the podcast to talk about his reporting. I also highly suggest Rick’s reporting on pain killer addiction in the NHL, sexual assault and hazing at the junior hockey level, and the concussion lawsuit launched against the NHL.
Internet Shit:
If you’re like me and love pop culture and think Hunter Harris is one of the best follows on Twitter, I highly recommend her newsletter Hung Up. I’m only subscribed to the free Friday newsletter but it’s a highlight of my week, every week.
Shameless Self-Promo:
Helen & I recorded another summer episode! Because what the fuck free agency! We also revisit our season predictions which in my opinion is a great exercise in humility. Look for it later this week wherever you listen to podcasts! Until then, listen to our back catalogue! Or don’t!
Till next time!
xoxo, Liz