“There aren’t enough days in the weekend.”
– Rod Schmidt
Kittens, we made it to another weekend! This one is badly needed for me, as I’ve now been sick with a persistent cold for two straight weeks, the hard drive on my computer died and needed to be replaced, and our house requires a deep cleaning.
In political news things are a bit less bombastic this week (meaning, I surmise, that someone has managed to hide the President’s phone during his preferred Twitter times), but plenty of weird or bad things still happened. For instance, they administration is now claiming that Mr. Bannon’s elevation on the National Security Council was the result of a faulty “copy and paste” job, the president conflated (dangerously, in my opinion) military and law enforcement work when it comes to rounding up and deporting immigrants, and transgender safety has been drastically walked back. Just because they aren’t picking silly fights with allies and being ridiculous in public doesn’t mean that policy changes aren’t happening. If you like these policy changes, fine, let’s have a respectful and vigorous debates in the comments as to why! If you don’t like this policy changes, keep up the pressure on elected leaders to make your voices heard.
[ETA after the above was written: annnnnnnnd then the White House banned selective news organizations from a press gaggle, apparently in retaliation for not being flattering enough. These happy, carefree days, aka three months ago, are now over and I’m back to being low level scared.]
However it’s not all doom and gloom this week! As usual there is a heaping pile of links for you to peruse, spring is slowly creeping closer, and this weekend sees the return of that great and glorious SDS annual tradition: the Oscars style review!
This piece on Medium got shared around quite a bit this week, comparing and contextualizing President Trump’s rise to internet culture.
Meanwhile, this article from MTV was a good reminder that those of us whose candidates lost the election might have to get used to losing even more in the short term. But we’re obliged to keep up the protests and civic engagement regardless. Despair, or worse apathy, are not options.
There was more than a little nonsense from CPAC this week, including this bit of you-can’t-make-this-shit-up news.
In a piece of good news from this week, I was heartened to read of the selection of Lt. General McMaster as the new National Security Adviser.
London Fashion Week wrapped and the street style images are as eccentric, colorful and stylish as you could wish for. Some years fashion weeks feel powerful and proactive, showing looks and styles that portray women (primarily) deliberately in command of their image, other years it shows a more reactive and vulnerable side that is more reactive to social or political climates. Neither is wrong and both are art. But in a season that could have easily gone the latter route given current realities, I’m thrilled to have seen more of the former.
Meanwhile, Maddie from Whiskey Tango Flat White has some thoughts on the political t-shirts shown at FW, particularly by Dior.
This beautiful but melancholy piece in Town and Country about the private art collection of a family destroyed in the Holocaust was a great read.
One writer debates the pitfalls of a President Trump soaked media landscape, what news is not getting the attention it needs as a result, and why the media ecosystem might need to work harder to pay less attention to him.
...This is not how vaginas work, dude!
These short videos by Vogue have been tiny pockets of visual delight.
In writing this post, the do-over attempt at immigration bans is underway and there’s plenty to be upset about in this version as well. Not least of all the fact that the administration seems to think that they can foist “unwanted” people on a government to which they do not belong.
This story just keeps getting weirder and weirder.
A hard to read piece about one good thing that might come out of the whole Milo Yiannopoulos media situation: a better and more blunt discussion about sexual abuse against young and teenage boys, particularly if they are gay.
A hideous action, and one that I am afraid will become more common, not less.
Album of the week: Drunk, by Thundercat
Small Dog Syndrome 
I don’t know why something isn’t being done about the press thing. Is that even legal? It should be deeply concerning to everyone. I don’t know how he is getting away with some of the things he’s doing.
I’ve written a bit about this before, but i think what a lot of people are learning is how many aspects of the presidency are not codified in law, but are only based on precedent or tradition. He gets away with crap because he’s challenging mores that haven’t been confronted since the 19th century in many cases, and never before given that it’s the 21st century now. It’s exhausting.
Ooh, plenty of titles to add to my TBR list on that list of 34 Books by Women of Color! Reading more widely and seeking out more diverse authors is an ongoing goal of mine. I’m currently reading one of the titles on the list (Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, a Korean American author) and it’s giving me a real insight into Korea’s history.
Hahaha, I laughed so hard at that period ‘invention’. Surely it must be a joke!
*Sigh* at the latest from the Trump administration. And did you hear about the British Muslim teacher who was denied entry to the US on a school trip this week?
I hope you feel better soon. I need to do some spring cleaning and bath the dog this afternoon. But I’ve been procrastinating by reading blogs instead: a *much* more enjoyable activity. 🙂
You need to publish some lists, would love to know what you’re reading and discovering (loved your last blog post on the subject, and added to my library waitlist after reading it!).
That story about the British teacher set my teeth on edge. And did you see that Muhammed Ali’s son (born in Philadelphia!) was also detained? This stuff is hideous.
I’m glad you’re enjoying my literary posts. 🙂 I’m planning to publish a monthly round-up post, with reviews of the books I read that month.
No, I didn’t hear about Ali’s son. It’s hideous indeed. We’re living in crazy times.
Love the Vogue videos — I’m just finishing a history of the Occupation of Paris (somehow the lack of Vogue’s in those yrs was omitted!)
Freckles — tattooed? Nope.
That reading list is certainly extensive. Not much a fiction person, but lots of great suggestions there.
Have a great week!