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Uncommon Courage

#65 Weekend reads – taking time off, switching the brain off

It’s time to switch the brain off and to do that, I’m at the JW Marriot in Phuket right now. Our family is staying here for five days and then we’re going south of the Island for another five days. We can’t leave Phuket – well we can – but have chosen to stay put until this pandemic comes to an end.

The challenge I face is, I tend to work seven days a week. Steve’s (hubby) work is more intense in a different way. Before the pandemic calls were rare. Now, everyone is online, scheduling calls at all times of the day and night. When your business is headquartered in the US and you’re in Asia, it’s always extremely challenging, but more so since this pandemic started. However, we can’t complain, and we’re lucky too because work is still coming in.

Regardless, rest is important and we haven’t had a proper holiday for two years. The kind where we switch off completely. And after this third wave smashed Asia, we knew we had to take a break to try to relax, just for a few days. Just not having an office to walk into every single day is a break for me. It’s something I can’t avoid when I’m at home. I know many are in the same boat.

So just a reminder to take a break if you need to. None of us are good working every hour of every day. It’s not good for our mind, body or spirit, and of course, we also need to feel good about it when we do it. I know the vast majority of humanity are suffering terribly during this time, which can make us feel guilty to focus on ourselves. But when we keep ourselves strong, we can better serve those in need around the world.

Regardless of having a break, my weekend reads continues. That’s something I’ll never stop doing. Maybe I’ll read even more – apologies in advance if I do.

Friend’s content and sometimes mine

Episode 90 Quintessentially good with Jade and Hillary is a podcast by two friends, Jay Leshark and Russell Distance Russell. Always fun and cheeky, this week features my friend  Jade Lama and her partner Hillary. Jade is someone I have enormous respect for, in how she has handled herself and her business during these extremely challenging times. Have a listen.

And this lovely article The importance of ‘flow’ by David Braga. A HUGE struggle I face every day.

And the second episode of Sustainability at Heart by Freda Liu – featuring three awesome humans – Avi Liran, Andrew Chow and Marianna Pascal. Have a listen and be inspired.

Please have a listen to this

Jeffrey Sachs’ speech at the UN Food Systems Pre-Summit (full speech) tks Paul Dunn

Donation time

If everyone gave #just10percent of their time, talent, money or voice, we’ll change the world. Can you donate? Make it a regular donation to the World Food Programme. Help us feed people in Phuket. Or donate to the UN Refugee Program, PowerOf , Kiva.org, Soi Dog Foundation. It’s a time for giving and taking care of each other.

Content to read

And here’s the content I’ve been reading this last week. Scan the headlines, read the ones that jump out at you, read or watch them all. Knowledge is power, and global knowledge is even more powerful.

Climate Crisis / 6th Mass Extinction

66 Reservoirs Discharging; Cities Severe Flooding| Many Dams Burst – tks Sophia Henri

Revealed: APP’s controversial Indonesian paper mill OKI plans to triple in size

The cost of cooling: how air conditioning is heating up the world

Every 27.5 million years, the Earth’s heart beats catastrophically

Spectacular Neon Blue Lava Pours From Indonesia’s Kawah Ijen Volcano At Night

Deadly street protests over Iran water shortages

Climate change: Researchers begin discussions on vital report

Extreme heat waves in a warming world don’t just break records – they shatter them

Why Extreme Heat Is So Deadly

Typhoon sweeps into eastern China after flooding chaos

Extreme weather takes climate change models ‘off the scale’

Athens appoints chief heat officer to combat climate crisis

COVID19

Vaccinated People May Spread the Virus, Though Rarely, C.D.C. Reports

Saudi Arabia to Impose Covid-19 Vaccine Mandate

As Virus Cases Rise, Another Contagion Spreads Among the Vaccinated: Anger

S’pore to review Covid-19 rules in early August, ease measures for vaccinated people if situation under control

Could Covid vaccine be taken as a pill?

Here’s what we know about the C.D.C.’s new mask recommendations for vaccinated people.

Statement by Prime Minister Bennett Following Meeting of the Corona Cabinet tks Roshini Ganesan

Covid: Delta variant spreads globally as cases soar

Coronavirus digest: Top Australian official ‘disgusted’ by Sydney protests

America’s urgent dilemma: How to deal with people refusing to take the Covid-19 vaccines tks Fiona Randall Taskis

Is going ‘back to normal’ even possible?

The Most Influential Spreader of Coronavirus Misinformation Online tks Kimi Mc

Australia Covid: Anti-lockdown protesters condemned

Olympics

Let’s Give Simone Biles a Gold Medal for Courage.

Gold medallist returns home

Simone Biles says ‘I have to focus on my mental health’ after pulling out of team final

Sha’Carri Richardson, Alen Hadzic and our unending forgiveness for white male athletes tks Jenni Thorman

Filipino weightlifter broke down and said she planned to ‘eat a lot’ after winning her country’s first Olympic gold medal

Glorious unpredictability tears up Olympic predictions

In a stand against sexualisation, Germany’s female gymnasts wear full-body suits at Tokyo Olympics

Simone Biles and the Weight of Perfection

Tokyo Olympics: Tunisia’s Hafnaoui wins shock swimming gold

Tokyo Olympics: World number one Ashleigh Barty stunned by Sara Sorribes Tormo in first round

Tokyo Olympics: Gold medals, shock exits, high temperatures and positive Covid tests on day one

Are You Allowed To Criticize Simone Biles? : A Decision Tree

Nightmares Realized: Every Human on Earth Now a Surfer Following Olympic Debut

There She Is – tks Pattie Grimm

Global Politics

Hear the profanity-laced voicemail that DC officer Michael Fanone got from a Trump supporter while he was testifying to Congress

Opinion: John Kennedy Foolishly Reveals That Republican Attacks on Women Are Purely Religious, and Unconstitutional

Opinion: Norman Lear: As I begin my 100th year, I’m baffled that voting rights are still under attack

Capitol riot: Policeman tells 6 January hearing he feared he would die

The Republican Party Is Now in Its End Stages

211 – QAnon and Conspiratorial Narratives

Fourth America is Almost Over — Americans Want a Divorce.

Iraq war Marine walks U.S.-Mexico border to protest deportation of veterans

Business and Technology

How Science Lost the Public’s Trust

Economist calls Texas’ slip from top three U.S. states for business ‘eerily disturbing’

‘Black Widow’ Lawsuit: CAA Slams Disney for Releasing Scarlett Johansson’s Salary

Trump’s Business Hauled In $2.4 Billion During Four Years He Served As President

It was edited’: Tony Fernandes defends AirAsia from sexism allegations after F-bomb incident with Thai CEO tks Lavinia Rajaram

Tourism to hit all-time low in 2021 tks Shaun Stenning

Leaving burnout behind: the pain and pleasure of starting a new career in my 50s tks Sue-Yen Wong

The Employer Brand Imperative: Why It’s More Important than Ever

Social issues (#BlackLivesMatter) and humanity

Phuket Sandbox Is Open But The Locals Are Still Suffering

Conspiracy theorists lack critical thinking skills: New study tks Phillipa Edwards

Author Expertly Shuts Down Commenter Who Doesn’t Get Why Women Get Pregnant as They ‘Hit Professional Stride’

Serial killer on death row Rodney Alcala dies of natural causes

New concept to see older women living together to avoid homelessness, loneliness

The price of ignorance

Passion, humour, history

‘King Richard’ Trailer: Will Smith Transforms Into Venus and Serena Williams’ Father

Unknown Stories Revealed by Fixed-Point Cameras – this is amazing!!

Alabama officer stands in rainstorm procession to honor 100-year-old WWII veteran

Quantum Physics Suggests That Death Doesn’t Exist And It Is Probably Just An Illusion

Another “monkey war” in Lop Buri, hundreds fight in the street- VIDEO

Dieter Brummer: Home and Away actor dies aged 45

‘Right-handed man’ almost masturbates to death: medical case study

Let me know if anything jumped out at you?

Cheers

Andrea

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