April 8, 2020

WHAT'S TRENDING

• Music to our ears – The news is bleak out there, but I hope Lady Gaga’s announcement of the “One World: Together At Home” benefit special on April 18^th, featuring Billie Eilish, J Balvin, and Lizzo, gives you something to look forward to. If you need something more immediate, Dua Lipa’s unplanned album release will definitely bring a little joy to your day. You can bet we’ve got Physical on repeat in this quarantined apartment. Nothing like a good 80’s dance “party” to get the endorphins going.
  
  

• We could all use a feel good story – Matthew McConaughey hosted virtual bingo for a senior facility near his home in Texas. This is such a beautiful idea. Hope this inspires all of us to turn our “red lights into green lights”.

IN BUSINESS / ECONOMY

• Tech bros for good – Twitter and Square CEO, Jack Dorsey, donates $1B to create Start Small, a global fund for COVID-19 relief, girl’s health and education, and universal basic income. Allocation of funds is transparent and tracked in this google doc.

IN POLITICS / GOVERNMENT

• Back to normal won’t happen soon – While some states are showing encouraging signs and flattening curves, Dr. Fauci tried to temper expectations that the US may never get back to where it was pre-Coronavirus, at least not until there’s a vaccine or effective treatment. Even with 40 vaccines in development, Dr. Fauci warns it can take up to 12-18 months for one to be approved and available. Other experts warn that might be too optimistic – here’s why.

• You’ll hear about – Wisconsin, who hosted their primary elections on Tuesday, being the first state to do so since the Coronavirus outbreak. Requests to postpone the election or extend the deadline for absentee ballots were blocked by state Republicans. There’s also criticism and concerns around the legitimacy of the vote because of limited voting locations in Milwaukee where it’s predominantly Democratic, resulting in crowds and long lines. Meanwhile, outside of the urban areas, Republican officials reported few problems.

JUST FOR YOU

• Personal Finances – Curious how much you might get from unemployment benefits? Check out this benefits calculator to help you plan for the worst-case scenario.
  
  

• DIY – After much back and forth, cloth masks are now recommended by the CDC. Here’s our favorite DIY video for how to create a mask from a bandana and two hair ties. Full disclosure @littledishvintage is our BFF’s (@eventsbydish) sister. Clearly great taste runs in the family 😍