How is everyone’s weekend going? Been vaccinated yet?
One of the oddest-yet-normal-because-it’s-Covid human interactions with individuals of late involves the latter question.
Saturday, I ran into a photographer friend of mine I hadn’t seen in a while and the first thing he told me (after the requisite forearm bump) was: “I got my first shot today.”
We’ve all had this exchange with someone, I’m sure, if not daily. It’s a social interplay that incapsulates the times we live in (I have not had my first dose yet, by the way. Waiting on the health department where I live, Lake County, IL, to call my number).
This week’s Six includes articles on the Florida governor, a media pariah at the onset of the pandemic now reveling in a victory lap for how he’s governed through Covid; a celebration of Sister Jean and how Peloton is more than just a workout but a way of life.
Let’s proceed with the Six.
Ron DeSantis Is Very Pleased With Himself
Last summer and fall, the Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis was a punching bag by the national press for his ‘open’ world view on Covid. State polls saw him languishing in the 40 percent approval range. Today, he’s considered by some to be a potential front runner for the GOP nomination in 2024. How did the turnaround happen? He was right. Politico with a deep dive on DeSantis.
A fascinating piece from a publication called Arc Digital on how the push to “morally sanitize our cultural environment” points to something deeper and more damaging than the latest “cancel culture” news cycle might suggest. Bottom line, there was a push to defend artistic and intellectual expression just a short time ago. And if we’re not careful, that sanitization of our culture will have long-lasting reverberations.
OK, so the Loyola Ramblers were eliminated from the NCAA tournament Saturday by Oregon State. The world’s most famous living nun, Sister Jean, may never be back in the public eye again like she was this past week. But what a life! This is an excellent requiem on Sister Jean from the Loyola University website.
I do not own a Peloton (no affiliate marketing here). But I’m captivated by its rise in American culture. This is a funny and perceptive piece via the New York Times into the world of Peloton, and the drift to influencer and personal brand status for its instructors.
Why Music Superstars Are Selling Their Publishing Rights
I’ve linked out stories in the Six before on famous music artists recently “cashing’ out, meaning selling the rights to their music to big conglomerates. Rolling Stone magazine takes the most comprehensive look that I’ve read thus far at the business side of selling publishing and why big name artists such as Bob Dylan, the Beach Boys and Linda Ronstadt are taking big cash payments up front and giving up control of their catalogs.
It’s back…another animals-in-the-wild story! This time, a bear encounters a hot tub and does, well, what us humans do when we encounter a hot tub—take a good long soak. Enjoy the video.
Have a great rest of your weekend everybody. Thanks for reading as always.
Have a suggestion for the Sunday Six? Send email to jon@jonjkerr.com.