Kimberly L. Wright

I can get a little bit gloomy, particularly with what we know is probably coming, as well as the good bit of uncertainty in my life currently.

When I’m feeling particularly vulnerable, I find comfort in the others’ perspectives. I sometimes get bent out of shape over a small setback in the midst of other larger ones. I know, I need to be mindful, take stock of the present moment. Sometimes it’s easier said than done.

The Bad & Ugly

• As anyone who’s terminally online knows, Meta’s AI profiles were revealed on Instagram, one programmed as a Black and queer personality named Liv. This farce was rightly called out as corporate minstrelsy and was shut down earlier Friday. The Verge reports that Meta plans to flood its social media platforms with AI accounts, which honestly gives humans more reason to avoid it as much as humanly possible.
• Relatedly, it’s getting harder to avoid AI, which is being ladled into everything. I visualize AI as the cloud in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, that erases whatever is in its path. In a nod to how the movie ends, I am willing to offer up disgraced actor Stephen Collins as a sacrifice to make it go away before it zaps into oblivion more of the creative economy. Note: I still haven’t gotten over the transporter malfunction from that movie, which I saw in theaters back then as a young child.

• So much of what’s happening current events is so sad and ugly, I’m kind of happy I’m not involved in covering it, even with the financial uncertainty that brings. Genocide in Gaza, terror in New Orleans, not to mention what’s going to be unleashed with the new administration. And the media is failing mightily, compromised by billionaires’ interests. The latest shoe to drop is the resignation of Washington Post editorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes after her cartoon critiquing media and tech tycoons such as Post owner Jeff Bezos “doing their best to curry favor” with incoming president Donald Trump.

She said in part:

“While it isn’t uncommon for editorial page editors to object to visual metaphors within a cartoon if it strikes that editor as unclear or isn’t correctly conveying the message intended by the cartoonist, such editorial criticism was not the case regarding this cartoon. To be clear, there have been instances where sketches have been rejected or revisions requested, but never because of the point of view inherent in the cartoon’s commentary. That’s a game changer…and dangerous for a free press.”

The Good

• I cannot recommend enough Maria Popova‘s The Marginalian, which is chock-full of literature, art and insights that are helping me get through this present moment. I have books on my wish list from her labor of love.

• Also, Andrea Pitzer offers some food for thought on what has been a dismal start to what will likely be a challenging new year for many, after a challenging year last year, ad infinitum. She provides examples of resistance in the face of brutality from Auschwitz and Chile. She encourages people to not collapse into cynicism but to find some sort of community to make it through.

• In addition, one of the three books I’m reading right now is Reconciliation: Healing the Inner Child by Thich Nhat Hanh to help heal my wounds and address my fears. I’m still early in the book but have embraced it. It weaves advice I’ve heard for decades with mindfulness and Buddhist thought and is well worth the read even if you aren’t spiritually inclined.

Do you have any recommendations for words of wisdom to help people through times of turmoil? Provide them in comments.