How Did We Get Here? This Week: Part Two

Dear Friend and Reader:

This letter is to all of our readers and customers not currently on the subscriber rolls. We are continuing to make my writing available to everyone at no cost, with the support of our Core Community.

With the June monthly horoscope, I began an article series asking how we got here. By here, I mean, from "sing happy birthday twice while washing your hands" to a shutdown of the culture to everyone standing in a little box -- and now, to experiencing nationwide protests and in the United States.

	Me visiting the 1969 Woodstock Festival site this week, which event is central to tonight's Planet Waves article. Photo by Lanvi Nguyen.

This week I'm here with Part Two of the series, called They Were Barefoot in Babylon (this edition opens in newsletter format, not on our primary website).

The article looks at current events in the context of the Woodstock Festival, which happened during a global pandemic in August 1969. I use the media theories I learned from reading Marshall McLuhan and my conversations with the McLuhan family to size up the stunning differences between what happened (and didn't happen) then and what happened this year.

This kind of long-form independent journalism is sponsored by our Core Community members. Many people reading this letter are former subscribers. You are invited to get back on board. We have no advertisers, no corporate sponsors, and no secret contributors. Our fidelity is to you and to seeking the truth as we see it.

Our Covid Coverage Continues

We are working as a team to assess the voluminous about of material being generated by the Covid crisis. One content stream this creates is Covid19 News, published by Chiron Return (our nonprofit arm). You will see the incredible diversity of angles we cover, now with the help of my co-editor Spencer Stevens. You may write to us at editors@planetwaves.net if you have something you think we should know about.

I have also published a series of essays dating back to early March documenting the spiritual, medical, social and political aspects of the crisis. One problem with the way this issue (and many others) have been covered is nearly total intellectual chaos. I do my best to offer a cohesive point of view, even as it evolves.

Finally, I've kept up consistent series of commentaries on Planet Waves FM, our nonprofit program that is part of the Pacifica Radio Network. New programs go up nearly every Saturday night at about 11 pm.

You may support Planet Waves FM and Covid19 News by contributing to Chiron Return. Philanthropists and major donors may contact me directly by email, or by calling (845) 331-0355.

Thank you for your readership and listenership, your trust and your friendship -- for many, going back decades. 

With love,

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