Ripped from the Headlines: March 2020: This Week In Culture: March 21–27, 2020

Singer Nicole Atkins joins the long list of musicians who are broadcasting performances from home after cancelling tours and live appearances. She recorded a video for Rolling Stone's "In My Room" IGTV series, playing four songs. Other artists who have performed for the show include Angelique Kidjo, John Fogerty, and Brian Wilson.

Britney Spears caused a stir when she posted a quote from Mimi Zhu on her Instagram that called for redistributing wealth. Some fans criticized her, saying she should start with her own wealth, but many of her nearly 24 million followers supported the statement.

Ava DuVernay gave an interview about her show Cherish The Day, which ends its first season this week. She spoke about her desire to portray African-American stories and characters that are not often seen on television, and about all the ways that the show's audience are connecting and discussing it online. Fickle is an Old English word from the same root as fake. It used to mean "false" or "deceitful."

The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo have been officially postponed, likely for a year. The IOC (International Olympic Committee) and Japanese officials said that the pandemic makes holding the games this summer impossible. No details were given about the future date, and there are many obstacles to rescheduling such a massive event.

Prince Charles, son of Queen Elizabeth II and heir to the British throne, has tested positive for the coronavirus. His wife does not have the virus. The couple are self-isolating at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. A recent statement says that the Prince has some symptoms but is in good health. The Queen has relocated to Windsor Castle outside London, because a queen can move in any direction.

If you have a dog, you're in luck! Pets of any kind can help us through periods of boredom and solitude, and dogs especially give us an excuse to get outside and move around. They are also usually willing to help you make videos, and possibly even wear costumes if you ask nicely. Now's your chance to make that viral video you've always dreamed of...

Besides recommendations for the BBC In Our Time podcast and the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie, this piece also suggests knitting as an excellent way to stimulate and calm your mind while stuck indoors for long periods. Palliative is a Latin word that refers to anything that lessens the symptoms of an illness without treating the underlying sickness.

Because we can't sit and read books all day,* books on tape make for excellent entertainment while we're cooking, or taking a walk, or posting videos of our dogs wearing costumes. Whatever author or genre you're into, it's never been easier to download a gripping story to your device and be transported far from your bedroom.

*Maybe we can...

Golfer Mike Trout posted a video to Instagram showing him hitting a golf ball off his balcony into a plastic cup on the floor below. Many athletes and celebrities are using social media to entertain themselves and their fans during this period of home confinement. Redimere is a Latin verb meaning "to buy back." This became the French rédimer, which meant "to remove a burden" or, in the religious sense, "to free from sin."

The feud between Taylor Swift and Kanye West flared up again after audio of their 2016 phone call was leaked. The audio appears to support Swift's version of events leading up to the release of West's song Famous, and she said as much on Instagram. Kim Kardashian replied, blaming Swift for bringing it up again. Both parties appeared embarrassed to be talking about it during a global pandemic.