1. Share a positive blog post
2. Send a thank you card to someone who has made a difference in your life (a friend, family member, teacher etc.)
3. Remember that family member you haven’t seen for a while? See how they are doing

1. No Ifs, Ands, or ButsMeaning: Finishing a task without making any excuses.
2. Son of a GunMeaning: A person, usually one who is behaving badly.
3. Quick On the DrawMeaning: Performing an action with the greatest of haste.

“Where there is ruin, there is hope for a treasure.” – Rumi

Would you rather be the God of light or the God of darkness?

1. Eating your offspring may be a sign of good parenting in some species
2. Pigs are constitutionally protected in Florida
3. Hitler had a flatulence problem

Would you rather never use toilet paper or only use leaves from trees you’ve gathered as toilet paper?

Would you rather be great at something nobody cares about or average at something everyone cares about?

Would you rather never eat your favorite food again or never kiss someone again?

“Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something and has lost something.” – H. Jackson Brown

1. Put a surprise note or sketch in with your spouse’s or kid’s lunch
2. Offer to pick up groceries for an elderly neighbor, especially in extreme weather
3. Send a treat to a school or day-care center

“I offer you peace. I offer you love. I offer you friendship. I see your beauty. I hear your need. I feel your feelings.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Exalted spirit, keeper of souls, ashamed I admit that I have sinned. I’ve let you down, I have not loved you with all my heart. Absolve me of my sins, heal me of these self inflicted wounds. Punish me as you see fit so I can strengthen my resolve.

Caress of summer
Hidden smile shifts in the sands
Blessings at the sea

1. Help an elderly person care for their pet(s)
2. At the post office, leave some extra stamps at the stamp machine
3. Pick up three pieces of trash wherever you are

1. Talk the TalkMeaning: Supporting what you say, not just with words, but also through action or evidence.
2. Ugly DucklingMeaning: One who may seem plain at first in appearance or capability, but later turns out to be beautiful or great.
3. Mouth-wateringMeaning: Delicious; something that looks or tastes appetizing.

1. The Crucible by Arthur Miller

2. A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

3. Moby-Dick, or, the Whale by Herman Melville

WORD OF THE DAY

Hyperlocal hai-pər-LOH-kəl Part of speech: adjective Origin: English, 20th century

1 Relating to or focusing on matters concerning a small community or geographical area.

Examples of Hyperlocal in a sentence “I love reading the hyperlocal news on my neighborhood’s Facebook page.” “The community center supports the hyperlocal residents of the county.”

On the front line.
Opening doors.
Expanding horizons.
It’s your choice.
Hearts united.
It’s on.
Live in the moment.
True sensations.
Success.
Born for success.

Would you rather be at a 4-hour concert of a band you hate or a 4-hour dinner with a person you dislike?

What destination is at the top of your list to visit?

Never have I ever laughed at an inappropriate time.

Would you rather have constantly chapped lips or constantly stuffed nose?

Did you know…

… that today is International Astronomy Day? Established to promote astronomy to the general public, astronomy clubs and groups use this day to help teach the people about the stars and other celestial bodies in the universe. Be sure to mark your calendars for May 16 when the moon, Jupiter, and Venus line up to form a smiley face!

~~~

Today’s Inspirational Quote:

“In this life we are all just walking up the mountain, and we can sing as we climb or we can complain about our sore feet. Whichever we choose, we still gotta do the hike. I decided a long time ago singing made a lot more sense.”

— Author Unknown

Would you rather have a great significant other but o friends

https://www.pgurus.com/economic-escape-velocity-from-a-pandemic/

https://www.pgurus.com/bjp-mp-anantkumar-hegde-complains-to-prime-minister-home-minister-to-probe-against-twitters-anti-india-policies-and-money-making/

Dearest master, creator of heaven and Earth, I come to you in my time of need. Grant me strength so I may strengthen my resolve. I ask this of you in your hallowed name, o bringer of life. Absolve me with your hallowed wisdom.

1. Write anonymous, friendly post-its for strangers to find
2. Leave enough money in the vending machine for the next person to get a free treat.
3. Buy a movie ticket for the person behind you in line

1. Birds of a Feather Flock TogetherMeaning: People tend to associate with others who share similar interests or values.
2. Tough It OutMeaning: To remain resillient even in hard times; enduring.
3. There’s No I in TeamMeaning: To not work alone, but rather, together with others in order to achieve a certain goal.

Would you rather be intelligent but poor or stupid but rich?

1. Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk

2. The Girl Who Played with Fire (Millennium, #2) by Stieg Larsson

3. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

“The cause of most of man’s unhappiness is sacrificing what he wants most for what he wants now.” – Gordon B. Hinckley

WORD OF THE DAY

Extemporaneous ik-stem-pə-RAY-nee-əs Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, late 17th century

1 Spoken or done without preparation.

Examples of Extemporaneous in a sentence “I was surprised to be asked to give an extemporaneous speech at the wedding.” “The director stood up to give a few extemporaneous remarks at the end of the day.”

“It is infinitely better to hope for the best than to fear the worst. Time is as much made out of the nights as of the days. The world is approaching a glorious dawn once again in its inevitable course of ups and downs. My blessing to all.”

——AVATAR MEHER BABA

[Source- Don’t Worry Be Happy. Designed and Compiled for the Young Adult Sahavas, 2018, at Meherabad, India. Compilation:- Ganesh Aditham, Rakhi Sharma. Project Coodination:-Rakhi Sharma (Copyright © Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust, 2018)]

Sent by a trusted friend on WhatsApp.  Translated by Google translate from Original Marathi.

मोदी आणी शून्य निद्रेची साधना.😳

डॉक्टर शरद ठाकर हे गुजरातचे खूपच लोकप्रिय साहित्यिक व पेशाने डाॅक्टर आहेत. वीर सावरकरांच्या जीवना वरील त्यांची कादंबरी ‘सिंह पुरूष’ खूपच लोकप्रिय आहे. एका वर्षातच ह्या कादंबरीच्या चार आवृत्या प्रकाशित झाल्या.

डाॅक्टरानी आदरणीय पंतप्रधान श्री नरेंद्र मोदी यांची भेट घेतली असता त्यांच्याशी जो संवाद साधला तो असा होता.

आदरणीय पंतप्रधान नरेंद्र भाईंनी आमचे प्रेमाने स्वागत केले. सुरूवातीला मी त्यांना सहजपणे विचारले “नरेंद्र भाई कसे अहात? कसे चालले आहे?”
सर्व सामान्य ऊत्तर असते छान चालले आहे. पण नरेंद्र भाई तसे म्हणाले नाहीत. ते गंभीरपणे म्हणाले “नाही सर्व कांही ठीक नाहीये. सध्या मी एक साधना करतो आहे, नीद्रेवर नियंत्रण मिळविण्याची!
मी म्हणालो, पण माझ्या माहितीप्रमाणे तुम्ही फक्त अडीच तासच झोपता, मग हे कशा साठी?
ते म्हणाले “खर तर मला साडे ऐकवीस तासही कमी पडताहेत. मला निद्रा शून्यावर न्यायची आहे.”
म्हणजे तिसर्‍या अंतिम टप्प्याची? – मी.
तुम्ही हे जाणता तर! – नरेंद्र भाई.
मी म्हणालो “हो मी पण एक साधक आहे अर्थात आपल्या ईतका नाही, पण तुमच्या मागोमाच आहे. आपण सगळे जाणतोच की श्री बजरंगबली कधीच झोपत नाही. आणि रामायणात सांगितले आहे की भ्राता लक्ष्मण श्री राम सीतेच्या पर्णकुटी बाहेर दिवस रात्र पहारा देत असे. चौदा वर्षाच्या वनवासात लक्ष्मण क्षणभरही नाहीत. मला माहीत आहे की क्षणाचीही निद्रा न घेणे ही साधनेची सर्वोच्च अवस्था आहे!”
दरम्यान मी त्यांना त्यांच्या हिमालयात केलेल्या साधने विषयी विचारले तेव्हा ते म्हणाले की हो ते खरे आहे. मला मा दुर्गेशने दर्शन दिले, पण देश सेवेत परत जाण्याचा आदेश दिला!
मी विचारले की तुम्हाला ही शून्य नीद्रेची अवस्था कशासाठी हवी आहे?

त्यावर ते गंभीरपणे म्हणाले “आपला हा भारत देश महान आहे पण अनेक शतके लुटला गेला आहे. माझे गरिब बांधव भ्रष्टाचाराच्या खाईत लोटले गेले आहेत. मला त्यांना वर आणायचे आहे, त्या साठी मला चोवीस तास कार्यरत रहावे लागेल त्या साठी ही शून्य नीद्रेची अवस्था प्राप्त करायची आहे.” हे सांगताना त्यांचे डोळे पाणावले होते आणि ऐकताना माझेही! मी म्हणालो – आतंकवाद्यांच्या यादीत आपले नाव सर्वात वर आहे. असे असताना आपल्याला भय वाटत नाही?
त्यावर ते गंभीरपणे म्हणाले “मी मृत्यूला भीत नाही. मातेने मला ज्या कार्या साठी परत पाठविले ते पूर्ण झाल्या शिवाय मला कोणीही मारू शकत नाही, आणि कार्य पूर्ण झाल्यावर कुणीही वाचवू शकणार नाही. असेही आपल्या देशात आपण पाहिले की कितीतरी कमांडो आणि अंगरक्षक असून सुद्धा वेळ आली तेव्हा मृत्यूने झडप घातलीच!”
असे आहेत आपले प्रधानमंत्री! मी काही कोणाची अंधभक्ती करणाऱ्यापैकी नाही. अरे साधा माठ घेताना दोनदा वाजवून पहातो. हा तर माणूस आहे. देशातील करोडो जनतेने अनेकदा टकोरे मारून पारखून पंतप्रधान पदावर बसविले आहे आणि म्हणूनच मी त्यांना पाठिंबा देतो.
भारतमाता की जय!
मराठी अनुवाद – रमेश डांगे.

મોદી અને શૂન્ય sleepંઘની પ્રેક્ટિસ

ડ Dr..શરદ ઠાકરે એ ગુજરાતના ખૂબ જ લોકપ્રિય સાહિત્યિક અને વ્યાવસાયિક ડોક્ટર છે. વીર સાવરકરના જીવન પરની તેમની ‘સિંઘ પુરુષ’ નવલકથા ખૂબ પ્રખ્યાત છે. એક વર્ષમાં, નવલકથાની ચાર આવૃત્તિઓ પ્રકાશિત થઈ.

આ રીતે ડ doctorક્ટરે માનનીય વડા પ્રધાન શ્રી નરેન્દ્ર મોદી સાથે વાતચીત કરી.

આદરણીય વડા પ્રધાન નરેન્દ્રભાઇએ અમારું હાર્દિક સ્વાગત કર્યું. પહેલા મેં તેમને સરળ રીતે પૂછ્યું, “નરેન્દ્રભાઈ, તમે કેમ છો? તમે કેમ છો?”
બધા જ સામાન્ય જવાબો બરાબર ચાલી રહ્યા છે. પણ નરેન્દ્રભાઈએ એમ કહ્યું નહીં. તેણે ગંભીરતાથી કહ્યું, “ના, બધું બરાબર નથી. હમણાં હું સાધના કરી રહ્યો છું, નિંદ્રા પર નિયંત્રણ મેળવવા માટે!”
મેં કહ્યું, પણ જ્યાં સુધી હું જાણું છું તમે માત્ર અ onlyી કલાક સૂઈ જાવ, તો આ કેમ?
તેણે કહ્યું, “ખરેખર, હું એકવીસ કલાક ગુમ કરું છું. મારે શૂન્ય પર સૂવું છે.”
ત્રીજો અને અંતિમ તબક્કો શું છે? – હું
જો તમે આ જાણો છો! – નરેન્દ્રભાઈ.
મેં કહ્યું, “હા, હું એક સાધક છું, અલબત્ત, તમારા જેટલું નહીં, પણ હું તમારી પાછળ છું. આપણે બધા જાણીએ છીએ કે શ્રી બજરંગબલી ક્યારેય સૂતા નથી. લક્ષ્મણ એક ક્ષણ માટે પણ નથી. મને ખબર છે કે એક ક્ષણની sleepંઘ ન લેવી એ સાધનાની સર્વોચ્ચ અવસ્થા છે! ”
દરમિયાન જ્યારે મેં તેમને હિમાલયમાં બનાવેલા સાધનો વિશે પૂછ્યું ત્યારે તેઓએ કહ્યું કે હા તે સાચું છે. મા દુર્ગેશે મને દર્શન આપ્યા, પણ મને દેશ સેવામાં પાછા ફરવાનો આદેશ આપ્યો!
મેં પૂછ્યું કે તમને શૂન્ય ofંઘની આ સ્થિતિ કેમ જોઈએ છે?

તેમણે ગંભીરતાથી કહ્યું, “આપણો ભારત મહાન છે પરંતુ ઘણી સદીઓ લૂંટી લેવામાં આવી છે. મારા ગરીબ ભાઈઓ ભ્રષ્ટાચારના પાતાળમાં પડ્યા છે. હું તેમને લાવવા માંગુ છું, તે માટે આ શૂન્ય sleepંઘ મેળવવા માટે મારે દિવસમાં ચોવીસ કલાક કામ કરવું પડશે. ” આ કહેતાની સાથે તેની આંખોને પાણીયુક્ત, અને મારી પણ! મેં કહ્યું – તમારું નામ આતંકવાદીઓની યાદીમાં ટોચ પર છે. તમે ડરતા નથી?
તેમણે ગંભીરતાથી કહ્યું, “હું મૃત્યુથી ડરતો નથી. જ્યાં સુધી મારી માતાએ મને પાછા મોકલ્યા છે તે કાર્ય પૂર્ણ ન થાય ત્યાં સુધી કોઈ મને મારી શકે નહીં, અને કામ પૂર્ણ થાય ત્યારે કોઈ મને બચાવી શકે નહીં. પછી મૃત્યુ ત્રાટક્યું! ”
આવા તમારા વડા પ્રધાન છે! હું કોઈની આંખ બંધ કરીને પૂજા કરનારમાંનો નથી. ઓહ, તે સાદી સાદડી લેતી વખતે બે વાર રમે છે. આ માણસ છે. દેશના લાખો લોકોએ તેમને વડા પ્રધાન તરીકે ચૂંટવામાં આવે તે માટે ખૂબ જ પ્રયાસ કર્યા છે અને તેથી જ હું તેમનું સમર્થન કરું છું.
ભારત ભારતને મહિમા!
મરાઠી અનુવાદ – રમેશ ડાંગે.

Modi and the practice of zero sleep

Dr. Sharad Thackeray is a very popular literary and professional doctor of Gujarat. His novel ‘Singh Purush’ on the life of Veer Savarkar is very popular. Within a year, four editions of the novel were published.

This is how the doctor interacted with the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

Respected Prime Minister Narendra Bhai welcomed us warmly. At first I simply asked them, “How are you, Narendra Bhai? How are you?”
All the general answers are going well. But Narendra Bhai did not say so. He said seriously, “No, not everything is fine. Right now I’m doing a sadhana, to get control of sleep!”
I said, but as far as I know you only sleep for two and a half hours, so why this?
He said, “Actually, I’m missing twenty-one and a half hours. I want to sleep at zero.”
What is the third and final stage? – I
If you know this! – Narendra Bhai.
I said, “Yes, I am a seeker, of course, not as much as you, but I am behind you. We all know that Shri Bajrangbali never sleeps. Lakshman is not even for a moment. I know that not taking a moment’s sleep is the highest state of sadhana! ”
Meanwhile when I asked them about the tools they made in the Himalayas, they said yes it is true. Ma Durgesh gave me a darshan, but ordered me to return to country service!
I asked why do you want this state of zero sleep?

He said seriously, “Our India is a great country, but it has been plundered for centuries. My poor brothers have fallen into the abyss of corruption. I want to bring them up. . ” His eyes watered as he said this, and mine too! I said – your name is at the top of the list of terrorists. Aren’t you scared?
He said seriously, “I am not afraid of death. No one can kill me until the work for which my mother sent me back is completed, and no one can save me when the work is completed. We also saw in our country that despite all the commandos and bodyguards, the time has come.” Then death struck! ”
Such is your Prime Minister! I am not one of those who blindly worship anyone. Oh, he plays twice while taking a simple mat. This is a man. Millions of people in the country have tried hard to get him elected as the Prime Minister and that is why I support him.
Glory to Mother India!
Marathi translation – Ramesh Dange.

मोदी और शून्य नींद का अभ्यास

डॉ। शरद ठाकरे गुजरात के एक बहुत लोकप्रिय साहित्यकार और पेशेवर डॉक्टर हैं। वीर सावरकर के जीवन पर उनका उपन्यास ‘सिंहपुरुष’ बहुत लोकप्रिय है। एक वर्ष के भीतर, उपन्यास के चार संस्करण प्रकाशित हुए।

इस तरह से डॉक्टर ने माननीय प्रधान मंत्री श्री नरेंद्र मोदी के साथ बातचीत की।

आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र भाई ने हमारा गर्मजोशी से स्वागत किया। सबसे पहले मैंने उनसे पूछा, “आप कैसे हैं, नरेंद्र भाई? आप कैसे हैं?”
सभी सामान्य उत्तर ठीक चल रहे हैं। लेकिन नरेंद्र भाई ने ऐसा नहीं कहा। उन्होंने गंभीरता से कहा, “नहीं, सब कुछ ठीक नहीं है। अभी मैं एक साधना कर रहा हूँ, नींद पर नियंत्रण पाने के लिए!”
मैंने कहा, लेकिन जहां तक ​​मैं जानता हूं कि आप केवल ढाई घंटे सोते हैं, तो ऐसा क्यों?
उन्होंने कहा, “वास्तव में, मैं इक्कीस घंटे से गायब हूं। मैं शून्य पर सोना चाहता हूं।”
तीसरा और अंतिम चरण क्या है? – मैं
यदि आप यह जानते हैं! – नरेंद्र भाई
मैंने कहा, “हां, मैं एक साधक हूं, बेशक, आप जितना नहीं, लेकिन आप के पीछे। हम सभी जानते हैं कि श्री बजरंगबली कभी नहीं सोते हैं। लक्ष्मण एक क्षण के लिए भी नहीं है। मुझे पता है कि एक पल की नींद लेना साधना की उच्चतम अवस्था नहीं है! ”
इस बीच जब मैंने उनसे हिमालय में बनाए गए औजारों के बारे में पूछा, तो उन्होंने कहा कि हाँ यह सच है। मा दुर्गेश ने मुझे दर्शन दिया, लेकिन मुझे देश सेवा में लौटने का आदेश दिया!
मैंने पूछा कि आप शून्य नींद की इस स्थिति को क्यों चाहते हैं?

उन्होंने गंभीरता से कहा, “हमारा भारत महान है लेकिन कई शताब्दियां लूटी गई हैं। मेरे गरीब भाई भ्रष्टाचार की खाई में गिर गए हैं। मैं उन्हें ऊपर लाना चाहता हूं, इसके लिए मुझे इस शून्य नींद को प्राप्त करने के लिए दिन में चौबीस घंटे काम करना होगा। ” यह कहते हुए उसकी आँखों में पानी आ गया और मेरा भी! मैंने कहा- आपका नाम आतंकवादियों की सूची में सबसे ऊपर है। क्या तुम डरे हुए नहीं हो?
उन्होंने गंभीरता से कहा, “मैं मौत से नहीं डरता। कोई भी मुझे तब तक नहीं मार सकता, जब तक मेरी मां ने मुझे वापस भेजे जाने वाले काम को पूरा नहीं किया, और जब काम पूरा हो जाए तो मुझे कोई नहीं बचा सकता।” फिर तो मौत आ गई! ”
ऐसे हैं आपके प्रधानमंत्री! मैं उन लोगों में से नहीं हूं जो आँख बंद करके किसी की भी पूजा करते हैं। ओह, वह एक साधारण चटाई लेते हुए दो बार खेलता है। यह एक आदमी है। देश के लाखों लोगों ने उन्हें प्रधान मंत्री के रूप में चुने जाने की भरसक कोशिश की और यही कारण है कि मैं उनका समर्थन करता हूं।
भारत माता की जय!
मराठी अनुवाद – रमेश डांगे।

 

Where is the last place you’ve been where you felt completely out of place?

Would you rather be great at something nobody cares about or average at something everyone cares about?

Infinite Mother, beacon in the heavens, hear my voice in my time of need. Grant me strength so I may save my eternal soul. I ask this of you in your divine presence, o eternal flame. Glorify me with your almighty mercy.

Hallowed Mother, guardian of souls, ashamed I admit that I have sinned. I was blinded, I desired more power to change the world. Forgive me for my flaws, grant me another chance. I accept your chosen verdict so I can strengthen my resolve.

You shall follow only the light.
You shall act upon responsibilities first before all else.
You shall believe in no other gods.
You shall not boast about your achievements.
You shall care for children orphaned by misfortune.
You shall encourage others to join you in following the words of god.
You shall not steal.
You shall offer your service to those in need.
You shall try to leave the world a better place you found it, for others come after you.
You shall not hide treasures or resources from others.

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“You can sway a thousand men by appealing to their prejudices quicker than you can convince one man by logic.” ― Robert A. Heinlein “The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.” ― George Orwell Platforms & Propaganda: 21st Century Witch Hunt: Caught In A Webb Of Lies Conspiracy theories can be wacky, laughable, deranged — they can also be seriously damaging and life-threatening, especially during a pandemic. Maatje Benassi’s life turned upside down since being victimized by George Webb, a prolific 59-year-old American misinformation peddler who regularly streams questionable diatribes on YouTube, where he’s amassed almost 100,000 followers and over 27 million views. Conspiracy theorists began making evidence-free claims that Covid-19 was a US biological weapon early on. As the false information spread and mutated on social media platforms, proponent Webb honed in on Benassi, a US Army reservist, mother of two, and serious cyclist. Webb proclaimed Benassi started the pandemic, by bringing the disease to China when she participated in the Military World Games held last October in Wuhan. Although hundreds of US military athletes had participated, Benassi was picked to star in the imaginary plot to infect the world. President Trump excoriated China as the originator of the disease; a Chinese government official countered by contending the US military brought the virus to China. Now Benassi and her husband, neither of whom have ever tested positive for the disease, are besmirched in conversations across Chinese social media about the outbreak, including among accounts that are known drivers of large-scale coordinated activities by their followers. The couple’s home address has been posted online, they’ve received threats, and their social media inboxes were overrun with hate messages from conspiracy believers prior to being shut down. “It’s like waking up from a bad dream going into a nightmare day after day,” she said. Webb admitted in the past his YouTube videos had included ads, meaning both the Google platform and Webb himself were making money off his dangerous propaganda. Sarah Silbiger via Getty Images The Silent Deaths of COVID-19 An analysis of overall fatalities during the pandemic in 14 countries reveals that the global coronavirus death toll could be 60 percent higher than official reports. Deaths from all causes in the weeks of a location’s outbreak in March and April 2020 were compared to the average for the same period between 2015 and 2019. The mortality statistics show 122,000 deaths in excess of normal levels across these locations, considerably higher than the 77,000 official Covid-19 deaths reported for the same places and time periods. That amounts to a 50 per cent rise in overall mortality relative to the historical average for the locations studied. If the same level of under-reporting observed in these countries was happening worldwide, the global Covid-19 death toll would rise from the current official total of 201,000 to as high as 318,000. Excess mortality has risen the most in places suffering the worst Covid-19 outbreaks, suggesting these deaths are directly related to the virus. (Financial Times) Additional painting: Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? by Paul Gauguin and hopefully this lightens things up: Bored Russians Posted Silly Art Parodies. The World Has Joined In. (NYT, $) Additional song: The Joy Formidable, Silent Treatment Spencer Platt via Getty Images Oil, Oil Everywhere But Not A Drop To Sell The oil market is in freefall. The crisis began with a global plummet in demand as Covid-19 spread and worldwide oil storage started filing rapidly. Retail investors were caught off guard last week when the May West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil price benchmark contract plunged into negative territory for the first time ever two days before expiry, as financial traders scrambled to avoid having to take delivery of oil. This week the sector collapsed into pandemonium after the biggest oil ETF said it would sell out of its June WTI futures position, triggering a massive swing in the price relationship between the June and July contracts. The WTI fell below zero for the first time in history, making US oil not only worthless but a liability, closing at -$37.63 a barrel on Monday. Brent Crude, the international oil price benchmark, ended down 24 percent Monday. The concern now is if it was possible for US oil to go so deeply negative, is the same historic nosedive in store for Brent Crude, the international oil price benchmark? The global oil market could be testing storage capacity limits in as little as three weeks. (CNBC, OilPrice) Houston’s ‘Horrifying’ Double Crisis: Oil Crash and Virus Shutdown (NYT) What’s Next for Global Oil Prices?: The Industry May Shut Down (Bloomberg, $) If you are a college student or have a .edu email address then “Bloomberg Media will be free for every college and graduate student in the world for the next three months.” Additional World News China could have choked off the Mekong and aggravated a drought, threatening the lifeline of millions in Asia (CNBC) How Covid-19 and Benny Gantz saved Netanyahu (CNN) What if Covid-19 isn’t our biggest threat? (Guardian) COVID-19 Germany’s Covid-19 expert: ‘For many, I’m the evil guy crippling the economy’ (Guardian) South Korea beating coronavirus but anxiety grows over ‘new normal’ (NBC) In China, finding hope amid coronavirus (BBC) Hokkaido Forced to Reinstate Lockdown After Coronavirus Returned (Time) Seattle’s Leaders Let Scientists Take the Lead. New York’s Did Not (New Yorker) We Still Don’t Know How the Coronavirus Is Killing Us (NY Mag) & Opinion | The Infection That’s Silently Killing Coronavirus Patients (NYT) Moscow’s motives questioned over coronavirus aid shipment to Italy (Guardian) The New Normal How Coronavirus Will Forever Change Airlines and the Way We Fly (Bloomberg, $) Safe Dining? Hard to Imagine, but Many Restaurants Are Trying (NYT) What Will Our New Normal Feel Like? Hints Are Beginning to Emerge (NYT) Sympathy Cards Are Selling Out (NYT) Prosperity In The Time Of Covid-19? Oh, That’s Rich According to a new report from the Institute for Policy Studies, between 18 March and 22 April the wealth of America’s richest people grew 10.5 percent. The billionaire class has added $308 billion to its wealth in four weeks, even as a record 26 million people lost their jobs. (After the last recession it took over two years for total billionaire wealth to get back to the levels they enjoyed in 2007.) And as the government handed out trillions of dollars to prop up an economy shuttered amid the coronavirus pandemic, some of the richest were at the front of the line. A flotilla of big businesses, millionaires and billionaires managed to sail through loopholes in a $349 billion bailout meant to save hard-hit small businesses. About 150 public companies grabbed more than $600 million in forgivable loans before the funds ran out. Very few have returned the money. In Florida, only about 1 percent of the population has been tested for Covid-19, less than the national figure of 4 percent. The state is also in the midst of an unemployment claims crisis, with its underfunded benefits system unable to cope with the volume of people filing. Meanwhile, Fisher Island, a members-only location off the coast of Miami where the average income of residents is $2.2 million and the beaches are made from imported Bahamian sand, has received $2 million in taxpayer money. This month, the island purchased thousands of rapid Covid-19 blood test kits for all its residents and workers. (Guardian) Keep in mind the following quote is from the most capitalistic publication we know: “Pumping trillions of dollars into corporate credit and even high-yield debt will further distort markets already shaped by a decade of easy-money policies. This is no abstract concern. The result will be an acceleration of two economy wide transfers of wealth: from the middle class to the affluent and from the cautious to the reckless.” in The Fed Punishes Prudence: Its bailout for risky debt helps investors, not employees. (WSJ, $) American billionaires are $280 billion richer since COVID-19 (Fast Company) Additional painting: The Potato Eaters by Vincent Van Gogh Additional USA News In four U.S. state prisons, nearly 3,300 inmates test positive for coronavirus — 96% without symptoms (Reuters) Some States Shouldn’t Ease Social Distancing Until At Least June, Modelers Say (NPR) Donald Trump set to fall back on xenophobia with re-election plan in tatters (Guardian) USDA let millions of pounds of food rot while food-bank demand soared (Politico) To Pressure Iran, Pompeo Turns to the Deal Trump Renounced (NYT, $) How Do You Sign ‘Don’t Drink Bleach’? (NYT) Traumatized migrant kids were being shot. One school district came up with a plan to save them (Guardian) Nancy Pelosi endorses Joe Biden for president in video remarks calling him the ‘personification of hope and courage’ (WaPo, $) Did John Bolton Outfox Himself on His Own Tell-All Book? (New Yorker) 21st Century Disney: I Like No Butts and I Cannot Lie The film industry has been making subtle changes to its movies for decades, and the digital age has made it easier than ever to cover their tracks. Disney has been especially guilty of this, what with all the politically incorrect skeletons in its closet. Not to be found on Disney+ is either the notorious Song of the South , or the original, racist lyrics of Aladdin ’s opening number. A sequence from the credits sequence of Toy Story 2 — where Stinky Pete propositions two Barbie dolls — has also been quietly removed. Elsewhere, Disney’s main concerns have been swearing, violence and particularly smoking. Cigarettes have been digitally removed from both old cartoons and photographs of Walt Disney, who was a heavy smoker. First they came for the cigarette butts, then they came for Daryl Hannah’s. In the original 1984 mermaid romcom Splash , there’s a shot of Hannah diving into the sea after kissing a dumbstruck Tom Hanks. Hannah’s blond hair almost covers her naked bottom. In the new version, that hair has been digitally extended to cover her entire buttock area — and badly at that. It looks as if she’s wearing a hairy skirt. Disney is hardly alone in this particular practice of ‘revisionist history,’ but it does make one wonder if we might be in danger of sanitizing everything to an absurd degree. (Guardian) Additional songs: Bob Dylan – The Times They Are A-Changin’ & Sir Mix-A-Lot – Baby Got Back Additional Reads How to eat your way to a healthy gut (BBC) Unfortunately chocolate is not mentioned here. For those in search of even more great art: Now Virtual and in Video, Museum Websites Shake Off the Dust (NYT, $) Independent book retailers are becoming the surprise winners in the coronavirus economy (WaPo, $) An innocent man spent 46 years in prison. And made a plan to kill the man who framed him. (CNN) We keep hearing anecdotes that there’s a lot of people who are drinking during the pandemic: ‘Quarantinis’ and beer chugs: Is the pandemic driving us to drink? (Guardian) & Happy Hour Comes Nearly Every Day for Social Drinkers as Coronavirus Keeps Them Home (WSJ, $) Fwiw at Daily Pnut almost everyone is a teetotaler. But we do have our vices: we love chocolate. Not cheap chocolate. Quality chocolate. As such we would have thrived in Mayan culture: The Maya civilization used chocolate as money. Imagine if the Mayan government was the USA right now, instead of pumping more cash into the economy let’s give people free chocolate. We don’t think this would be a bad idea! 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