I Can't Say Its Name (But It Said Mine)
Godspeed: good fortune; success (used as a wish to a person starting on a journey, a new venture, etc.).
I missed publishing an issue last week – the first time that's happened.
Why?
I had my first-ever run-in with "V" word.
Not the movie.
Not the U2 song.
Something more along the lines of the old Tommy Roe song. (Say who, say what? Go ahead, time travel for a moment of fun to see and hear what a #1 Billboard Chart in 1969 was like.)
And boy howdy, I tell you what – V-word kicked my butt. Total plant shut-down kind of thing, and even now, 6 days later I'm still feeling the effects.
I don't even want to spell out its name or say it out loud.
It came on the heels of an affliction that begins with the letter M, which I'm loathe to write or even speak as well, for fear of conjuring its dark forces. It rhymes with "my rain," if you get what I mean.
I've had two more M-things since, so it's been a challenging time.
For those of you who know about these things, of the V or the M variety, well, you know. 😵💫
The combination of the two, we'll call it "VM" (and no, that's not for voice mail) pretty much overwhelmed me.
So, there's my excuse for not turning in my class assignment last week.
Enough of that, what say we hop into some impact, along with the fun and curious that the world so freely gives of itself these days.
Godspeed, friends.
Russ
Democracy Is An Affair Of The Heart
While home is where the heart is, turns out democracy lives there, too:
"The human heart is the first home of democracy. It is where we embrace our questions: Can we be equitable? Can we be generous? Can we listen with our whole beings, not just our minds, and offer our attention rather than our opinion? And do we have enough resolve in our hearts to act courageously, relentlessly, without giving up, trusting our fellow citizens to join us in our determined pursuit--a living democracy?" Terry Tempest Williams, author
In Idaho We Like Our Potatoes Haute
While our traditional Idaho license plates may say “Famous Potatoes,” could “Famous Fashion” be far behind?
For New York Fashion Week earlier this month, the Idaho Potato Commission scored a real PR Coup by launching the Haute Potato Collection.
Inspired by the 75th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe’s iconic potato sack dress, the Potato Commission partnered with Idaho-native and designer Cartier Dior Eliasen to create "couture looks that celebrate confidence, creativity, and bold self-expression." They were auctioned with 100% of auction proceeds benefiting No Kid Hungry.
I think this is one of those rare "big ideas" that actually gets executed. Hats off to the Potato Commission (and whoever came up with the brilliance) for showing what’s possible when creativity and purpose come together to turn an iconic moment of fashion history into real impact for kids.🥔🌟
Joy As A Tool Of Protest
I thought it hilarious how many people got their underwear all bunched up over Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show. Seriously.
It was pretty ingenious, turning exhuberance into protest. You certainly didn't need to speak Spanish to understand it. You could just feel it.
First time I've ever cried watching the Super Bowl.
Speaking of songs as protest, here are a couple of recent podcast episodes that I can recommend:
- Bad Bunny and the Art of Protest. On this episode of the New York Times podcast, Cannonball, host Wesley Morris and guest Sasha Weiss beautifully deconstruct Bad Bunny's performance, as well as other artists wielding notes and words as social weapons.
- Bruce Springsteen wrote Streets of Minneapolis on a Saturday, recorded it on Sunday, and released it on Sunday – then announced that he and the E Street Band would kick off their "Land of Hope and Dreams" tour in Minneapolis on March 31. Here's the first live performance of Streets of Minneapolis where the Boss joined Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello at a lunchtime benefit concert.
- Fela Kuti and The Music of Political Resistance. I've been in love with Fresh Air host Terry Gross for-ever! Here, she highlights the story of Kuti, the Nigerian pioneer of Afrobeat music, a complex, courageous character whose firebrand political activism came with real consequences.
As for me, I'll sign off today with one of my favorite protest songs of all time, from a time and land far before the word "podcast" entered our vocabulary.
Godspeed, friends.
Russ