Category Archives: Anatomy

Anatomy

Anatomy Of A Governor – WUNC

What is the typical gubernatorial profile in North Carolina? Are there patterns in the background, upbringing or political composition of those who have occupied the Governor's Mansion during the last 50 years? And what might these patterns tell us about who could be chief executive going forward?

Guests: Gary Pearce, political writer and advisor to former Gov. Jim Hunt;Morgan Jackson, co-founder of the political consulting group Nexus Strategies

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Anatomy Of A Governor - WUNC

Anatomy

‘Tenet’ | Anatomy of a Scene – The New York Times

new video loaded: Tenet | Anatomy of a Scene

transcript

transcript

This is Christopher Nolan. Im the director and writer of Tenet. Early in the film, the protagonist played by John David Washington and Neil played by Robert Pattinson, they travel to Mumbai. And theyre tasked with breaking into something thats fairly unique to Mumbai, these high rise houses. So its like a mansion that rather than being wide on the ground, its vertical in the air. These aerials are some of the first aerials that any film company has been allowed to shoot in Mumbai ever. And it was a lot of coordination with the government to allow that to happen. But its a spectacular city and it was something I was very keen to get into the texture of the film. The hardware used to do this stunt obviously stuff weve made up these winches and so forth. Its an arborist catapult putting the line over the rail there. And we spent a lot of time talking to the stunt guys about how they could do this, and they came up with the way of having John David and Rob as you see here actually launch into the air. Theres a cut there very invisible by Jen Lame my great editor to the stunt guys who then were launched the entire way up the building for real. No CG. And here we see John David Washington showing his physical prowess as the protagonist, and Rob with the slightly more loose character of Neil. A little less disciplined but similarly skilled. Were getting our first glimpse there of Dimple Kapadia a great Bollywood actress who has lent her talents to the film. Denzil Smith is a co-star there, hes also well known in India. We shot in a real house. The family who allowed us to shoot there were incredibly welcoming. A lot of this stuff would normally be done you do the interiors in a set, so forth. We tried to do it all right there overlooking the ocean in Mumbai. This is the setup really for the character. We want to show his ruthless side, we want to show his skill. But what John David is able to bring to this is a sort of generosity of spirit, its a very warm presence. So not just pure sort of cynicism. My friend, guns are never conducive to a productive negotiation. Im not the man they send to negotiate or the man they send to make deals. But I am the man people talk to. It was such fun to come and be a part of the Mumbai film industry for a few days. I mean we were able to work with the most amazing local crew there. To say anything about a client would violate the tenet he lives by. And at the end here, we have the reveal of Dimple Kapadia who plays Priya. It was a delight working with her, and getting to work in Mumbai on this film. Sanjay, make a drink for our guest, please.

Recent episodes in Anatomy of a Scene

Film directors walk viewers through one scene of their movies, showing the magic, motives and the mistakes from behind the camera.

Film directors walk viewers through one scene of their movies, showing the magic, motives and the mistakes from behind the camera.

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'Tenet' | Anatomy of a Scene - The New York Times

Anatomy

The anatomy of a skateboard – SurferToday

However, a complete skateboard features a total of 12 different individual components. Each of these elements has a function and requires fine adjustments.

The most intricate and complex component is the skateboard truck.

Trucks hold the deck a few inches above the ground, sustain the skateboarder's weight, and are responsible for keeping the wheels rolling.

If you want to assemble your skateboard with select components, all you need is a good skate tool for tightening wheels and mounting hardware and adjusting the kingpin's height.

Let's take a detailed look at the skateboard anatomy.

The deck is the skateboard's wooden platform where the rider places his or her feet and to which other parts are attached.

They come in different sizes and shapes, but most popsicle-shaped skateboard decks feature a kick in the tail and the nose.

Skateboard decks have subtle differences that distinguish the front (the nose) from the rear (the tail), so they're not exactly symmetrical.

The deck also incorporates some kind of concave and a more or less gentle end-to-end curve - rocker or camber.

Generally speaking, a narrow skateboard is more responsive and flips easily but will also be less stable; a wide board provides stability but is more difficult to maneuver.

If you are buying your first skateboard, place different decks on the ground, and choose a size that is slightly narrower than the length of your feet.

In other words, when your heels are even with one side, your toes should stick off the other side by about an inch.

A standard deck is made from seven layers of 1/16-inch thick hard maple veneer laminated with PVA glue and pressed to a complex form.

Grip Tape

The grip tape is a top surface sandpaper-like sheet that helps the skateboarder to grip the skateboard.

Bolts

Trucks are attached to the deck by bolts.

There are two sets of four holes drilled into the deck. A total of eight bolts hold the trucks onto the board.

You can loosen them for easier turning, but make sure they're tight enough so that you cannot undo them with your fingers.

Trucks are the central and most complex part of a skateboard deck.

They feature the mechanics that allow the rider to skate around, turn, and get to the air.

A skateboard truck is made of steel and is exceptionally resistant. Often, it outlives all the other components of a skateboard.

The truck comprises several parts: the baseplate, the kingpin, the hanger, the bushings, and the axles.

A truck's width is determined by the length of its hanger (127-187 mm) and axle (193-254 mm).

In the end, and ideally, a rider wants the outside of the wheels slightly hidden inside both sides of the deck.

So, ultimately, the choice of a deck has an impact on the correct size of trucks for the board.

Baseplate

The baseplate is a flat and solid base metal plate featuring machine-drilled holes that mount to the skateboard's deck.

Kingpin

The kingpin is a large threaded pin - or large bolt - that sticks out of the baseplate.

Hanger

The hanger attaches to the other end of the kingpin.

It's a T-shaped metal component that takes all the beating. As a result, it is the heaviest and sturdiest part of a skateboard.

It is usually made of steel, but there are also lighter, more durable, and more expensive alloys available in the market.

The hanger houses the axles that stick out and incorporate both wheels.

Bushings

Each truck has two bushings, the elements that allow the skateboard to turn.

The bushings are two small rubber cups that pivot when the skateboarder leans left or right.

They are sandwiched between the baseplate and the hanger, i.e., the metal parts of any skateboard.

There's a bolt holding the bushings and hanger onto the kingpin that can be tightened or loosened to adjust how easily the board turns.

Bushings have a variety of hardness levels, depending on the riding conditions.

Technical and heavy riders often opt for stiffer bushings; cruisers and light skaters prefer softer bearings for easy turning.

Bushings may need to be replaced when they become worn out and start to crack.

Axle

The axles, also known as hanger shafts, connect the two wheels on each truck and are held in place by axle nuts.

They range from 193 to 254 mm and set the standard for how trucks are measured.

As a general rule of thumb, the axle length should put the wheels within one-quarter of an inch of the deck's edge.

Skateboard wheels should run smoothly on their axles.

Risers

The riser is an optional element that can be placed between the baseplate and the deck.

It's a plastic or rubbery pad that absorbs shock and offers extra cushion.

It may increase the wooden deck's life by protecting it from sudden and powerful impacts transferred through the wheels and trucks.

They also add space between the wheels and the bottom side of the deck to prevent the wheels from hitting the board's underside.

They make flip tricks difficult to land because they raise the skater's center of gravity.

A complete skateboard features four urethane wheels attached to the trucks and are categorized by diameter and hardness.

They range in size from 50 mm to 70 mm+ and have a hardness scale (durometer) that goes from 78A to 100A+.

Large and soft wheels are more forgiving and absorb impacts better. They're good for cruising and vert riding and range in size from 67 mm to 80 mm.

Small and hard wheels are fast and good for performing tricks and shredding skateparks and sidewalks. They range in size from 52 mm to 58 mm.

Axle Nuts

A complete skateboard uses four axle nuts that keep the wheels in place and spinning.

They tend to wear out quickly, so they should be replaced once in a while.

The standard size is 5/16'' for trucks that have 8 mm axles.

Washers

Most skateboards assembled in skate shops have two small washers between the nuts on the axle and between the hanger's inner bearings.

Washers help wheels spin smoothly.

Bearings

A complete skateboard has a total of eight bearings - two inside each of the four polyurethane wheels.

They look like rings with small steel balls inside.

Bearings fit into either side of the wheel and allow it to spin smoothly on the axle.

The most expensive bearings are ceramic bearings.

These high-performance bearings absorb the heat generated from the friction of a fast-spinning wheel and make the skateboard go fast.

However, precision steel bearings are the most common bearings used in skateboards.

Sometimes, there's also an aluminum spacer inside the wheel, between the bearings, that keeps everything aligned.

Bearings are rated for their ABEC (Annular Bearing Engineer's Committee) factor. That is to say they are rated for their quality and smoothness.

The ABEC scale ranges from 1 (low quality and cheap) to 9 (better quality and expensive).

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The anatomy of a skateboard - SurferToday

Anatomy

Thursday Night Football Returns To Top Ratings; Greys Anatomy Paces ABC – Deadline

Foxs game pitting the Los Angeles Rams against the New England Patriots scored a night-leading 2.3 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic and 9.12 million viewers, returning to action after last weeks game was postponed because of positive Covid-19 tests.

The game, a 24-3 Rams win, was the first TNF tilt since November 19, an NFC West showdown between Seattle and Arizona. Last night was off three tenths in the demo from that Seahawks victory in early Nielsen Live+Same Day fast nationals, which because of the nature of live sports will likely see adjusted numbers later today.

ABCs full night of originals paced the scripted side last night, with Greys Anatomy (1.1, 5.50M) dipping a tenth from last week but still finishing as the nights top-rated non-sports program. Station 19 (0.8, 5.40M) was steady, while A Million Little Things (0.5, 5.34M)) grew a tenth.

NBC aired an all-specials lineup last night with the two-hour One Night Only: The Best of Broadway (0.5, 3.54M) followed by the reveal of the Time Person of the Year (0.3, 2.44M).

CBS was in repeats last night save for Star Trek: Discovery (0.2, 1.58M), even with last week. The CW re-aired its Silent Night A Song for the World special.

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Thursday Night Football Returns To Top Ratings; Greys Anatomy Paces ABC - Deadline

Anatomy

Chandra Wilson on Greys Anatomy Nursing Home COVID-19 Storyline, Patrick Dempseys Return and Merediths Future – Variety

SPOILER ALERT:Do not read if you have not yet watched the Dec. 10 episode of Greys Anatomy.

As one of the last remaining original cast members on Greys Anatomy, Chandra Wilson has been playing Dr. Miranda Bailey since the show premiered in 2005. Tonight, Wilsons character narrates the latest episode a task usually done by Ellen Pompeos Meredith Grey.

Now, in its 17th season, Greys Anatomy is one of the most influential shows in television history, inspiring generations of young women to enter the medical field. But never in its long-running history has the medical drama been as impactful as this season, as it tackles the coronavirus pandemic.

In the latest episode, Dr. Baileys mother dies after contracting COVID-19 in the nursing home she recently moved into, after Bailey moved her parents in an assisted living center, so that they could be living closer to her in Seattle.

At one particularly moving moment of the episode, when Bailey realizes her mother is dying from the virus, the character says, I dont want her to be another Black woman statistic. Later on in the episode, Dr. Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) and Dr. Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams) have a conversation about the pandemic taking more lives of Black and Brown people, shedding a light on the real-life racial disparity of the current health crisis with certain groups at increased risk from COVID-19.

Watching the news every day, you kind of get bogged down in the numbers and the statistics. Things people say on TV just end up being news items, opposed to someones life, Wilson says.

The hope is that by illuminating these things on Greys, were putting these things in the mouths of people you know these characters so that there is relevance and resonance where maybe there wasnt before, she continues. From the perspective of doing some good, if you can stomach something coming from Jackson Averys mouth better than you can stomach it coming from your mayor or your governor, then weve served a good purpose.

Here, Wilson talks about her latest storyline, the power Greys Anatomy holds during the pandemic, what it was like having Patrick Dempsey and T.R. Knight back on set plus, Baileys future on the show.

Why was it important to include a storyline about coronavirus in nursing homes this season?

There is a myriad of material out there right now, as far as how people are affected differently. Specifically in Washington, at the beginning of the pandemic, there was a big light shone on nursing homes being affected in a large way, so it just made sense for Greys Anatomy, since Washington is our home, that we would highlight nursing homes. Bringing Baileys parents to Seattle and having them live in an assisted living facility was one way to do that.

Did you have input in Bailey leading the nursing home storyline?

No, not at all. This is something that was given to me, and I said, We have to tell that story, because we are talking about a lot of peoples experiences but it is actually rare that Bailey was able to at least be there with her mom, whereas, for the most part, people arent able to be with their loved ones when they pass away.

How will her mothers death affect Bailey moving forward?

You could see in the scene between Maggie and Bailey, there is a lot of guilt there with taking responsibility for having brought her parents to Seattle. Bailey notoriously pushes through everything, but I think its hard to push through and persevere right now. I dont have a seasons worth of perspective, as far as how its going to affect Bailey, but right now its about pushing through. Eventually shes going to have to deal with it. As far as the timing is concerned, it may not be right away. But eventually, this is going to hit her.

Going into this new season, the writers knew that the show had to cover the pandemic, since youre a medical show, but since the pandemic is not slowing down, will coronavirus be the center of the rest of the reason? And was that always the plan?

Well, I know that we were starting in the COVID environment we were just going to jump in time a bit to get us into the pandemic, and then we were going to flash back into things that may have been missed at the end of Season 16 [since production was shut down]. In my heart, just as Chandra Wilson, I was hoping by the time these episodes aired, we would be talking about the past. But we are so present right now, in sort of a frightening way. So thats been really unexpected for me.

So do you know whats mapped out for the rest of the season? Or is the storyline in flux, depending on what happens with the pandemic and the vaccine?

Im not sure how much the current circumstances are changing our overall arc. Our arc has had to remain very fluid this season, based on even if were allowed to work at a certain point, depending on how our national numbers do. The relevance grows episode-by-episode, and I think it makes for an interesting journey for our writers right now to figure out where the arc goes because I think its about as fluid as the times are right now.

You went through a shutdown last spring when Season 16 was cut off early when there was an industry-wide production halt, due to the pandemic. Have you gotten used to being on set now with all of the safety protocols?

It will never feel normal and thats good because it shouldnt. It certainly feels required. This is what we need to do, in order to keep our environment and ourselves safe enough and by extension, our families, so that work is possible. One way or another, we all have to figure out what can we do during this time because we cant stay home indefinitely. It really is about honoring the requirement and going above and beyond, in order to make sure that we are as safe and as healthy as we can be, so that people can work.

You are an actor not a real doctor but since the show is influencing millions of viewers each week, do you feel a heightened sense of responsibility to keep shooting the show, during these times?

Its our responsibility to keep the quality of the show, but were not trying to beat people over the head with facts and opinions. We are ultimately entertainment.

Its an interesting responsibility. There is endless television on, and there are endless avenues as ways to watch things, but I know that if I just have to look at Zoom one more time, or something created by the iPhone, its really difficult [laughing]. Its kind of a breath of fresh air to be like, Hey, theres a show that was actually shot on a stage with actors in the room! On a level of importance, take that for what it is, but I feel good about bringing some new dramatic series content to the air, and I think thats what all the shows are trying to do. Television and movies, we are the place of escape right now. We are the thing that people are relying on, while spending so much time at home.

The biggest responsibility of that is being able to light a path in getting people back to work on set and create a model.

Another major moment of the episode is when Bailey is talking to Meredith, who is unconscious in a hospital bed with COVID-19, and then you show up in her dream sequence on the beach. Is it supposed to be implied that Meredith can hear Bailey, or anyone else whos talking to her, even though shes not responsive?

I think weve left that up to personal interpretation. Some sedated patients will tell you that they can hear everything. I think we would all like to think that in our world, Meredith can hear us and she is part of the conversation she just happens to be at the beach.

What is the future for Meredith, in regards to her health?

Im not being evasive, but only because of how fluid the season is, I think we thought we were going some place, but now were going a different place, and Im not sure where that place is. That one is up in the air because I honestly dont know and even if I did, I wouldnt tell you [laughing].

Back to Merediths dreams on the beach, what was it like having Patrick Dempsey and T.R. Knight back on set?

Wasnt that fun? It was so fun. Its just so nice to welcome people home to Greys, and with familiar faces and the familiar crew, it just makes it real easy because we all worked together for so long.

Had you kept in touch since they were both off the show?

Oh, sure! Especially, during this pandemic, I was trying to reach out to everybody to make sure that people were doing okay.

Showrunner Krista Vernoff said that she kept Patrick Dempseys return insanely under wraps even many of the actors did not know. Did you know?

Yeah. I got a chance to be in-the-know on that.

What was it like to keep that a secret?

I just know when I was on the beach with T.R., there were a few people around that seemed like they were coming to see what show was shooting, and maybe have taken out a phone, and we had people on phone watch, just to make sure that nobody was going to be able to get the scoop. And Im sure it was the same thing when Patrick was on the beach.

What was your reaction when you found out that Derek and George would be returning?

Ultimately, its about story. If you present somebody with a cool story opportunity then its like, Yeah, sure why not? This had to have been attractive for Derek to be there on the other side potentially with Meredith, and for OMalley, it had to have been. Its just a really cool story.

I know you wont tell me if there are plans for any more characters to show up this season because your lips are sealed, but which character from the past do you think would be best for Bailey to reunite with?

Well, heres the thing everybody that comes to the beach is there for Meredith, so we dont even really get to see each other in that other realm, so the other characters dont have anything to do with that. But as a fan, Id like all my babies the dead ones and the ones that are all alive in all places that would make me so happy! Just as a fan of the show, that would make me so happy [laughing].

Youve directed many episodes of Greys Anatomy. Any plans to direct this season?

That, too, is fluid. With all the protocols in place and with the PPE and the zones on set, I think its just easier for me to be Bailey. I think they need me to be Bailey right now, and to be well. There is not a season where I dont catch a cold, and its usually around the time that Im directing, and we cant have that this season because I wouldnt be allowed to come to work. So Im just focusing on being healthy and being Bailey. When we can put all this behind us, then theyll send me back to direct, and Im sure Ill do four episodes instead of two, to make up for it.

The show has been on for so long and so many actors have left the show throughout the years, so the inevitable question is always, how much longer? So how much longer for you?

That is the million dollar question. I always say until the wheels come off, Ill be there [laughing]. I think there have been so many versions of when the show would end and how the show will end that there isnt a version at this point. I keep showing up when they call me and tell me that were doing another one! I would love to see the end of her I would love to see the completion of that arc, not only as a character, but with the show, but everything is dictated by story, as always but what a great story to be able to tell that I was a starter and a finisher, thats a very cool story.

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Chandra Wilson on Greys Anatomy Nursing Home COVID-19 Storyline, Patrick Dempseys Return and Merediths Future - Variety

Anatomy

‘Grey’s Anatomy’: Why Does Everyone Really Hate Tom? – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Tom Koracick, a role played by Gregory Germann, did not relate well to Greys Anatomys characters.

Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams), Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.), and Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) did not give him an easy time. While fans may think that their hate for Tom is valid, one fan points out a petty reason that the fandom should discuss.

Tom, an attending surgeon at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, was initially Amelias mentor. Tom exudes an interesting and fun character. In fact, he is the most fun surgeon you can ever see, as he plays music while performing medical operations.

Speaking on Entertainment Tonight, Elisabeth R Finch, a Greys Anatomy co-executive producer, describes Toms character as unpredictable and unexpected. However, on the flip side, Tom exudes a lot of arrogance, which may have contributed to some of his bad relationships.

One instance of him showing his ego is when he went to brag to Teddy after pulling off Catherine Averys (Debbie Allen) surgery. Despite his arrogance, he can prove to help people in times of need. In one instance, he told Teddy Altman (Kim Raver) that he tried to form better relationships with people, but they did not like him.

RELATED: Greys Anatomy: Tom Is Underappreciated and Fans Are Begging That He Stays

Tom did not form the best relationships in Greys Anatomy. He does not seem to settle in any serious relationship, and the only relationship that showed some serious prospect was one with Teddy.

To start with, he mentored Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone). In the show, we saw Amelia request Toms help to perform a surgery, but Tom did not have to do anything as Amelia successfully did it. After the surgery, they have casual sex, and that was about it.

Tom had a healthy relationship with Catherine, and there were flirting with each other. However, this, too, did not develop into anything meaningful. Catherine approached Tom to help her with her tumor. Tom devoted his time and spent a lot of hours operating on Catherine.

Tom had yet another casual relationship with April Kepner (Sarah Drew), whereby they had a one-night stand. After the one-night stand, Tom took a step to help April overcome her struggle with her faith before growing close with Teddy.

While he did find some love from the women, the men disliked him. He was in constant confrontations with the men. At Catherines party, Owen and Tom have a confrontation concerning Teddy.

In another instance, Jackson and Tom disagreed on a pro-Bono medical case, which Tom wanted to record and use for promotion. In another instance, Richard was angry when Tom told him that Catherine had secured her job at Grey Sloan Hospital.

A fan on Reddit offered an alternative reason apart from the fact that he is proud. The fan points out that Jackson, Richard, and Owen are possessive and territorial.

The fan says that all the hate stems out from jealousy.

He points out that Tom and Catherines relationship makes Richard feel out of place. The fan also points out that Owen and Jackson hate Tom because Tom was there for the people they love in times of trouble when they couldnt be found.

Every fan has an opinion, and it is up to you to judge what explanation appeals to you. Whatever the opinion is, it does not change the fact that Toms drama makes the show more interesting.

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'Grey's Anatomy': Why Does Everyone Really Hate Tom? - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Anatomy

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Fans Are Applauding the Show’s Coronavirus Tribute Scene – Yahoo Lifestyle

Photo credit: ABC

From Harper's BAZAAR

[There are spoilers ahead for last night's episode of Grey's Anatomy. If you haven't watched the episode yet, return to this post at a later date!]

The doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial have been battling the coronavirus pandemic all season, but last night's episode dealt the fans the first really personal COVID-19 death of the year. Miranda Bailey's mom passed away from COVID-19 at the end of Thursday night's episode, in scene that can really only be described as a punch to the gut. After that, the show paid tribute to all the lives lost to COVID-19 this year, and fans are applauding that choice.

The assertion that those who have passed away during the coronavirus pandemic aren't just faceless statistics was present throughout the whole episode, and Bailey even talked about it in her voiceover. People should be remembered for the lives they lived and the people they loved, she said. So when the show transitioned into a scrolling list of names of those lost to the pandemic, fans were gutted, but appreciated the decision. It even made some Grey's fans angrier that there are still people in the real world that don't take coronavirus seriously. Here are some of their reactions.

Grey's has been handling the pandemic in a real (but tasteful) way all season. Last night's episode was a really good reminder of what's at stake right now. So stay home, mask up, and keep people safe! Miranda Bailey said so!

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'Grey's Anatomy' Fans Are Applauding the Show's Coronavirus Tribute Scene - Yahoo Lifestyle

Anatomy

Anatomy of a Healthy Building – Security Sales & Integration

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Anatomy of a Healthy Building - Security Sales & Integration

Anatomy

Zoe Whittall: I started by rereading Melville; now I prefer reruns of Greys Anatomy which is good for self-care but bad for art – Toronto Star

The cherry tree in my front yard was bare when the pandemic began. It blossomed in May when it felt important to think it would all be over soon. I hosted near daily distanced visits with friends on my porch, sipping coffee under its defiantly vibrant pink and white flowers. My lover, an essential worker, made a plastic contraption so that we could hug.

When the blossoms fell later in summer, and the cherries grew Viva-Glam red, passersby filled their pockets. When they bruised purple and burst rotten, the COVID-19 numbers sunk to single digits. My lover and I got tests that we waited only twenty minutes in line for, with negative results in less than 12 hours. Then we went to the beach for a week.

While swimming in Sandy Lake, near Lakefield, the water glowed a type of turquoise Id only ever seen in the Caribbean Sea, an illusion from its shallow, sandy base. We bought roadside corn and cozied up in a rented cabin. We felt normal. The only issue was wed gotten so used to sleeping alone that we lay awake at night unsure how to handle the closeness of another person.

But I now think of August with a tender nostalgia normally reserved for college drug trips and poetic, pre-Internet love affairs. Because now the tree branches on my street are bare again, and it is just me for lockdown round two. I knew it was coming but knowing ahead of time isnt always as soothing as youd expect.

A few years ago, while promoting my last novel, I told a Macleans magazine journalist that my singular goal was to be able to spend every day writing in a room by myself. In the photo they used for the article I am sitting on my ex-partners red couch, looking out the window of our shared home. You can see a hole in my cardigan that I didnt realize was there. A shoddy, hack detail that nonetheless nails quite symbolically the state of my life at the time the photo was taken. But in 2020 I have an entire apartment in which to be alone, writing, every day of this sickly slog of a year. I know that I am extremely lucky. But perhaps I should have been more specific and ambitious with my aspirations.

I begin every pandemic day by playing phone Boggle with my friend Matt. I am terrible at it. I dont even scroll to the stats page to glimpse the tally of how many times he has beaten me anymore. One would think Boggle would be a suitable game for writers, but winning is less about being a wordsmith and more about spatial intelligence, of which I have very little. But accepting a small, insignificant daily loss while connecting to a friend has become a pleasant routine, and in keeping with the larger themes of 2020.

Like most people, Ive had several big losses in 2020, too depressing to write about, and I would prefer not to.

The act of rereading, rewatching, playing a repetitive game, or doing any activity that runs lightly over existing neural pathways, has in itself become routine for me. (I reread Herman Melvilles short story Bartleby: The Scrivener one day when I could not take in anything new. It still, as the kids say, slaps.) Now, I prefer reruns of shows like Greys Anatomy, whose predictable moralism and inane expository dialogue feels like a comforting hug when a real one is forbidden. Which is good for self-care, but bad for art.

What literature is going to come from this moment of pause? From this collective fear? Its a curious question to ponder in the semi-final stages of preparing a book manuscript, especially since everything I write about is, at its core, about anxiety. With this new book I found myself shifting the story to stagnant places. Why should my protagonist have an emotional arc, when that idea seems from the Before Times? Why are these crazy people I invented in 2018 allowed to kiss?

But Proust wrote In Search of Lost Time in bed, did he not? I ask my kitten, who responds by climbing me like a tree with his little knife hands.

To write well one must have a flourishing inner life, an ability to sink deep into an esthetic project and live in that pretend world. But for me it also helps to have real connections to the present moment. I palm handfuls of potting soil, trying to keep a geranium alive that my kitten insists on hollowing out every morning, because he knows it will rouse me, usually from a nightmare about standing in a crowd without a mask. (This dream has replaced the one about having to go back to high school naked.) My hands in the soil feels grounding, but sometimes I rarely speak for days, and connections to voice and spoken language fray, which can fracture a relationship with the present moment.

For example, the other day I blurted out something personal about my diet to my barista, because shed noticed Id changed my order. She is the one person I speak aloud to every day, so perhaps the misfire was appropriate. A comedy sketch aired that I wrote for The Baroness von Sketch Show about the daily emotional arithmetic of being an introvert. And while it did I texted a friend about how I longed to be dancing, sweaty, arms-raised and hair swinging loosely back and forth, bookended by strangers. Is COVID-19 going to make me over as a bubbly extrovert, ready to network my way back into an in-person career?

But there is something about this time that feels familiar. I grew up on a farm in the 70s and 80s, a time when childhood was largely unstructured, and my brother and I were encouraged to be imaginative and independent. Sometimes I catch myself staring out my window, watching my city-faced neighbours like a TV show, the way I used to watch the worms in our driveway, or the sheep in the pasture when I was a child, when the pace of life was slow and real TV was forbidden.

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I chat late into the night with my friend Dean in Iowa about our broken hearts and screenplay ideas. I make plans to meet a couple in Philadelphia Ive only met over Zoom, but who fill the interstitial moments of my work day with warmth and connection. My writer friend Jen in Vancouver sent me beautiful skin care products to soothe my broken heart. A friend from Instagram sent me brownies, another few sent flowers and cards when they knew I was grieving. No one is exactly OK, but we are finding what comfort we can this way, and for those of us who live alone, it feels life-saving.

So I encourage you to scroll your Netflix re-watch list or thumb through that well-worn paperback novel, play a losing game of Boggle, send some roses to your Instagram friend whose dog videos make you smile, send a hug emoji to the group text, and in the immortal words of the prophets vocal group Wilson Phillips, hold on for one more day.

Zoe Whittall is the author of The Best Kind of People. Her next novel, The Spectacular, will be out in August 2021.

Originally posted here:
Zoe Whittall: I started by rereading Melville; now I prefer reruns of Greys Anatomy which is good for self-care but bad for art - Toronto Star

Anatomy

Grey’s Anatomy star Chandra Wilson addresses her future on the show as Miranda Bailey – Digital Spy

Grey's Anatomy spoilers follow.

For the 17th season of Grey's Anatomy, the show has been tackling the coronavirus pandemic and showing the frontline workers battling and struggling to try and save lives.

In episode five, Miranda Bailey had a devastating loss when her mother was diagnosed with COVID-19 and brought to the hospital where she later died.

It was heartbreaking to watch, but the most emotional moment was when Bailey sang 'My Girl' to her mother as she passed away peacefully.

Chandra Wilson, who plays Bailey, said she isn't going anywhere soon and wants to keep playing the character "until the wheels come off".

"I always say until the wheels come off, I'll be there," she told Variety.

"I think there have been so many versions of when the show would end and how the show will end that there isn't a version at this point. I keep showing up when they call me and tell me that we're doing another one!"

Related: Grey's Anatomy star addresses "profound" reunion with Ellen Pompeo in surprise return

Chandra revealed that she would love to see her character have a complete life arc.

"I would love to see the end of her I would love to see the completion of that arc, not only as a character, but with the show, but everything is dictated by story, as always but what a great story to be able to tell that I was a starter and a finisher, that's a very cool story."

Grey's Anatomy season 17 airs on ABC in the US. It airs on Sky Witness in the UK with selected episodes also available on NOW TV.

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Grey's Anatomy star Chandra Wilson addresses her future on the show as Miranda Bailey - Digital Spy