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Sunday Sundown Rundown - 9/5/21

3 Up

1. Emergency, Sanitation, and Utility Workers - These guys deserve the week and quite possibly, the month or year. Their efforts in rescuing those who were trapped, in ushering away debris, and reconnecting immediate needs such as power, subway systems, and more, are immeasurable and highly honorable. 

2. Higher Education Workers - This is a selfish "up", but sooooooooo much props and love to everyone and anyone who works on a college campus adjusting, pivoting, and just doing whatever it takes to get this semester off the ground. Good luck to everyone across the country. 

3. Drake - It was a big week for Hip Hop fans who were given two very anticipated albums from Kanye West and Drake. But we're giving Drake the nod here - not taking favorites, but I enjoyed Certified Lover Boy more than DONDA - for the mere fact his release took over pop culture, and also broke the one-day Spotify stream record for a released album. Love or hate him, Drake is climbing into rarified air amongst the greats. 

3 Down

1. Hurricane Ida Damage - From the destruction down in Lousiana all the way up to the Northeast, especially NYC, Ida left her mark in a major way - tornadoes, flash floods, and deaths - including the biggest concern that many cities are not prepared to handle the bouts of extreme weather we'll see going forward. So many prayers to those coping with loss, damage, and despair. 

2. Western Wildfires - Extreme weather continues to be a big topic in 2021. If not Ida, it's the Caldor wildfires along Lake Tahoe out West that is ruining lives and reminding us of the imminent change in our world. 

3. Selling of Fake Vaccination Cards - People are skipping out on free vaccines, but paying big bucks for the faux proof of it for access. Not only is there so much selfishness and privilege wrapped up in that - both sides, but it's such a concern of our inability to beat this thing that is COVID. 

3 Interesting

1. Texas Abortion Law - MMMMmmmm, yah. Look, abortion has long been a point of debate that surely will not end in this blurb. However, I will say this, if Texas lawmakers strongly believe that this law will stop the safe action of these procedures, they are drastically mistaken. 

2. 7.5 Million Lose Unemployment - The irony of losing unemployment benefits on Labor Day weekend. This is yet to be another turn and chapter in the book that is this pandemic. It's going to be interesting how this impacts it all. 

3, Ivermectin - Just my opinion here - it's amazing how we've gotten to this point in society. Just. Outright. Amazing. 

Cover Photo

Members of the New York City Fire Department rescue a woman from her stalled car on September 1.

Anthony Behar/Sipa/AP

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