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Mai Tran began catsitting in 2021 while Tran was on pandemic unemployment, often staying overnight in people’s homes. Tran has now cared for twenty-two cats and traveled to ten apartments all over New York City, observing the interior lives of cat owners and appeasing their neuroses. From home vet visits to black eyes to refugee cats, Chronicles of a Catsitter documents the most memorable days on the job.
In late 2021, I pick up another gig through the cat rescue Facebook group. The couple I work for lives only a few blocks away, so I arrange to drop in twice a day to hang out and feed the cats rather than stay overnight. The couple keeps four long-haired cats in a one-bedroom apartment. They send me photos of each pet along with detailed bios. The cats’ names, slightly altered for anonymity but the same in essence, are King Fluff, Ding Dong, Pilaf, and Freddy.
Oh my god, hey! How’s it going?
I feel like such a jerk, man. It has been the craziest week. I am literally just seeing this ransom note now.
Ugh, I’m the worst.
Okay, hang on, hang on, I’m just skimming back through—ah, shit. I see you set a meet time two nights ago, right under the old oak tree in Magellan Park. You didn’t end up—
You did? You weren’t waiting long, were you?
A couple of hours? Even though you hadn’t heard from me? Huh, okay. I mean, I would’ve confirmed at least—
No, no, totally fair. I get it, that’s on me.
Wait, that wasn’t the night with all the crazy rain, was it? Man, you must’ve gotten soaked.
How’s my kid holding up, anyway?
Oh, yeah, that sounds like him. Hey, let me ask you a question: Are you giving him a little iPad time at night?
All right, I mean, that’s your call. I know I tried to be a real “no screen time” hardliner at first, but honestly, you’re just punishing yourself. Believe me, I’m not going to tell anyone if he gets a little too much time with Ms. Rachel if it’s going to make your life easier.
- by Aeon Video
- by Christian Swann
- by Fernanda Gallo
Consider Donald Trump to be in a racial bind when it comes to election 2024. After all, he needs Black voters to at least defect from Joe Biden in swing states, if not actually vote for him. Yet, more than ever, he also needs his white nationalist base to believe that a second Trump term will be even more racist than the first and he’s been openly claiming that he’ll address the ghost of anti-white racism. Not surprisingly, his evolving strategy for the Black vote has been high on empty symbolism and viral moments, but distinctly low on specific promised policy benefits for the Black community. Milkshakes and far-right policies are all the presumptive Republican presidential candidate has recently offered... Read more
Source: Black MAGA Is Still MAGA appeared first on TomDispatch.com.