the double text #21
"i'm on the way / i know the way."
Friends,
I wish I were writing to you with more of an uplifting tone for this newsletter, but there’s been a lot to digest, and it’s only the second week of January and a Wednesday.
When I started this column of the newsletter, I promised you something of inspiration to spark your creativity, but I hope that hasn’t misled you that a lot of the reading list I share lends itself to politics and the news of the day, because I am a staunch believer that all art is political and to be aware of the climate we live in, is to inform your art so it is the most authentic and truthful.
There will always be room for warmer pieces, ones that fill our mugs, but there will most certainly always be others that drain it. Truths that give us migraines and cause uncomfortable, complicated feelings that may surface our own traumas. I’d always rather know than not, and so that’s my plan for sharing as we move forward.
Now, here’s your double text—
links
Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal reached — Go deeper with Axios’ Barak Ravid to learn about the peace agreement that should have come months ago.
If you’re a teen living in a place in America that bans books, you can apply for a Boston Public Library card for access to banned eBooks and eAudiobooks.
A gorgeous Fibonacci by Memoiring ‘s Melisse Gelula, Her Past Was Stronger than the Pull of Our Present.
Good lord, giddy up for this one… "Help, My Mother-In-Law Might Be Living Here Forever!" by
I’ve seen 5 of these magnificent 8 and have to agree that this is some of the best television that’s ever been written and produced. Eight Perfect Episodes of TV by Stephanie Bai.
Meta suspends DEI, fact-checking across their social networks, and its leader proclaims that corporate America has been neutered. It’s no joke how staunchly aggro Zuckerberg has become in the last few weeks or perhaps he was always this way, but no doubt emboldened by Tr*mp’s looming inauguration, so much so that TikTok users upset about the upcoming ban have assumed Priscilla Chan will soon be divorcing him to explain his glow down. Mark Lemley, Zuckerberg’s now former lawyer, seems to be just as concerned about his behaviors as the rest of us.
I’ve seen another nomination hearing of a man get grilled as harshly as Hegseth, only to learn that he would be confirmed anyway because that’s America now. I don’t have high hopes that we’ll keep this monster out of one of the highest offices in the cabinet.
Will Marriage Equality Be Safe Under Trump? Here's What You Need to Know by Sara Youngblood Gregory
LA is Toxic, and We Need to Talk About it by
. This is an imperative piece of the conversation that we should all be considering as LA continues to navigate putting out the remaining fires and as they move to rebuild what has been tragically lost. Kaplan writes, “The air, the debris, the homes that are left standing: toxic. Extremely toxic. And it’s going to be toxic for months. Los Angeles’s air - and likely water supply - is more toxic than we know. And it’s not just the houses that have burned down. It’s not just the surviving house on ravaged blocks. It’s neighborhoods miles away from the fire zones, too.”If you’re looking for a place to donate for the LA fires, you can read the double text #20 and/or consider The Help Company, which is raising funds for nannies and housekeepers of the Palisades. “Approximately 5,000 homes destroyed in the fire already and the entire neighborhood made uninhabitable, we estimate we will be able to identify and verify over 1,000 housekeepers and nannies who will be without work for the foreseeable future.” If you know of anyone who should be added, please share this link with them.
The homeowner of 66 Perry Street doesn’t care if you couldn’t help but wonder how cute you’d look in front of her stoop. A gate is coming to keep tourists and SATC/AJLT fans away. I’m sorry, don’t hate me, but she’s got a point!
I can’t tell if this is all a major marketing ploy for NY Transit because the latest congestion pricing has successfully! ruffled some feathers, but an early morning performance by Bad Bunny and Adam Scott with the rest of the staff at Lumon at Grand Central has reinvigorated electricity in the streets of New York. Ben Stiller looked on like a proud dad, and I can confirm I’m headed to Puerto Rico for Bad Bunny’s concert in August.
Keke Palmer’s Greatest Role Is Herself. How the former child star became a multimedia mogul and stopped trying to please everyone else. by E. J. Dickinson.
I first saw this on Chelsea Fagan’s social media, but now we’ve got a full-blown report — Brad Pitt Catfish Scammers Have Struck Again by Danielle Cohen.
Sadly, here is another — a once esteemed creative is now marked disgusting and monstrous. Lila Shapiro reports about Neil Gaiman’s sexual misconduct, rape allegations, and lewd behavior toward women that has occurred over decades. It’s hard to scrub your brain of this nightmare after reading— There Is No Safe Word. How the best-selling fantasy author Neil Gaiman hid the darkest parts of himself for decades.
watch
Quality Advice
Julia Louis-Dreyfus' existence is just perfection. I think this is my gameplay strategy moving forward:
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The Substance
I wasn’t expecting to love this as much as I did — and I highly recommend finishing your dinner before you embark; that was my one error, but this camp body horror film is just fantastic. I know there are some Margaret Qualley haters out there, but fear not, your anger will be properly placed on her in this film and perhaps may even draw some empathy.
Barbarian
This film was recommended to me every few months for two years, and I stubbornly never made time for it until recently. Everything about this is just *chef’s kiss* so earned and delightfully traumatic in all the ways that your nerves will stay on edge until the last frame. Brava, Zach Cregger.
The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies
If you can believe it, we spent an entire weekend binging the entire Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit (yes, the extended versions!) films. It occurred to me that I’ve been watching LOTR for 20 years… and that made me feel… a lot of things that have to do with The Substance.
The Penguin
This was delicious to consume in about a day and a half — yes, even if you don’t care about Batman and DC Comics! Cristin Milioti delivers an impeccable performance, and Collin Ferrell is unrecognizably terrifying as Oswald Cobb. A fucking ride, ladies and gentlemen.
Babygirl
I think you can wait until this hits the small screen in your home, and I find myself wondering if I liked the soundtrack more than I liked the film. No shade or disrespect intended, but I expected so much more out of the writing for this one. While it was seamlessly edited, a lot of the scenes felt rushed and crashed together. We were never in one place long enough to attach ourselves to the characters.
Echoes in Rain by Enya
I really can’t stop listening to Enya (and no, not because I was on a LOTR binge!) because she is the KING among KINGS. Also, she’s sold 75 million records, but she has NEVER TOURED.
See you soon. And please share this newsletter with anyone you think would enjoy reading it. xVLB
Holy sh*t, thank you for sharing my mini memoir piece, VLB! So honored to have been curated by you here. Warm mug moment!
I fricking love Hobbits (and Enya). Wholesomeness in dark times 🩷