Thanks to everybody who wished me good health this week. Your wishes have kinda-sorta been granted. Every symptom of this illness — fever, congestion, coughing, etc. — has gotten significantly better, with one exception: My voice still isn’t coming back.
Some people pay significant sums of money to go on silent retreats, where they aren’t supposed to talk to anyone. Well, this week I’ve had a silent retreat in the comfort of my own home. So far, though, the spiritual benefits of this practice seem to be escaping me. I have never thought of myself as the kind of person who loves the sound of his own voice, but it turns out that I do.
There have been two big news stories this week: the eclipse and the Israeli attack on a convoy of World Central Kitchen vehicles in Gaza. I don’t have a lot to say about the eclipse; it’s like the kind of oh-wow event you either do or don’t find moving. The WCK attack, on the other hand, has taken on a symbolic significance beyond the simple facts. It has brought to a head the discontent with Israel’s prosecution of the Gaza War that has been growing for some while, pushing the Biden administration to take a more forceful approach to the Netanyahu government. Whether anything will come of it remains to be seen.
So this morning’s featured post is “Will the World Central Kitchen attack change anything?” I don’t try to answer that question. The article mainly pulls together what we know at this point. It should be out shortly.
The weekly summary includes a discussion of the eclipse, and in particular of the strange tendency on the Christian Right to attach meaning to it, along with other signs and wonders like the New Jersey earthquake and the Baltimore bridge collapse. At long last, it looks like one of the Trump criminal trials will start next week. The predicted meltdown of Trump Media stock has started. No Labels is not going to field a candidate. That should be out before noon EDT.
So have a great week, everybody. And don’t forget to appreciate the sound of your own voice.
The Weekly Sift 
Comments
Glad to hear you’re feeling better and welll enough to continue writing. I really enjoy and appreciate your commentaries.
Hi Doug, Hope to hear your voice tomorrow morning! db
I had a 3-week bout of laryngitis last year (Jan-Feb 2023) and it felt awful. My coughing did some damage to my vocal cords. I know what you mean about missing the joy of speaking! Take good care! Marsha
Hope you get your sound back soon! I’ve been on a silent retreat – though not an exorbitantly priced one – and I suppose the key factor is choosing to exercise the silence rather than having it imposed on you like in your case.
IIRC the Alinea chef Grant Achatz lost his voice for a while after a cancer treatment — that must be… interesting, for someone who needs his voice as part of his work.