her novel predicted Diddy's downfall
and modern day imperialism
In today’s issue, you’ll find a curation of articles and a must-watch video to understand what’s driving the Trump regime’s recent actions in Venezuela, how we got here, and what to know about the legal case against Maduro (h/t Eliza Orlins for her detailed analysis). If New Year’s resolutions content give you the ick, you’ll find this interview about leisure more tolerable. There are two books currently claiming my attention—one of them has changed how I view AI and imperialism as a whole, and the other is one I’m trying desperately to track down. As vaccine-preventable illness cases begin to rise, so does the rise of immune amnesia (which is its own public health crisis).
#5SmartReads on what’s happening in Venezuela
Dec. 20, 1989: Invasion of Panama (Zinn Education Project)
U.S. interventions in Latin America and the Caribbean haven’t always gone as planned (NPR)
‘Naked imperialism’: how Trump intervention in Venezuela is a return to form for the US (The Guardian)
Objection: The Maduro Indictment, Read Closely (Objection: Everything)
These are the articles that helped me gain a better understanding of what’s happening with this regime’s invasion of Venezuela, from a historical perspective, and what it means for a new world order now.
While I don’t have the knowledge to comment on this specific issue, I am reflecting on how imperialism (especially American imperialism) stubbornly endures and worsens under administrations like this one. Trickle-down economics and opportunity are nothing but a distraction to consolidate wealth and power, by those who already have it.
If you haven’t watched this video by Heather Cox Richardson, I highly recommend doing so:
I had a wintering fail on Sunday.
I spent the day in a productive whirl—planning out my week while the kids were in karate, furiously running through my Sunday setup and a tidying spree, and acting as a line cook making naan pizzas for dinner.
Once I settled Rhaki back in his bed for the second time, I crashed. When I woke up on Monday, I still felt the anxious jitters that spurred me through the ideal productive morning. It’s not even noon, and I already feel done for.
I’m not alone in this. Brigid Schulte has written books about the productivity fallacy and how it specifically affects women, and what we can do about it.
“The biggest misconception is that busyness equals productivity. Everyone’s busy, but no one’s productive. And we somehow celebrate it—crammed calendars, back-to-back meetings, constant multitasking. But that’s burnout.”
I needed this reminder today, and suspect I’ll need it this month as I slip into my old hypomanic ways when things get stressful. I appreciate Schulte’s framework on how to work with your partner on sharing the mental load and prioritizing each other’s leisure time the way men generally prioritize theirs.
As for me, I plan on getting into bed shortly after putting my boys down and reading the ARC of Evelyn Skye’s Ideal Life (an excellent read, and one that touches on this very topic).
I started #5SmartReads 7 years ago as a way to amplify underreported news and underrepresented perspectives. Your support makes this series possible (has helped me publish more issues a week) . Thank you for your subscriptions (all of them) and for sharing my work with your circles. If budget permits, I would be so appreciative of your paid support of my work.
