“How pleasant to walk over beds of these fresh, crisp, and rustling fallen leaves…. How beautiful they go to their graves!”
—Henry David Thoreau, Diary, October 12, 1853
Wow. What a bad week on the news front, in a year of bad weeks. Domestic terrorism, racism, possible test balloons of anti-trans actions (which my cynical brain interprets as gross attempts to seize controls of headlines or a news cycle), conspiracy theories, acts of violence against people of color…well, let’s process that together in the comments. There are so many ongoing stories that may change and evolve more in the coming week, but it’s still be a disheartening one for the state of the US and parts of the world.
In MUCH happier news, one of my best friends friends is coming to visit us soon and I’ve been looking forward to this literally all year. She’s coming off the back of some brilliant news that I can’t share yet but will once I can because I’m so darn proud of her I could cry! On to the links and watch this space!
What an absolute shit show this has been to watch, and I’m heartsick at how no one will be held accountable in a meaningful sense. Fall guys taking a fall is not accountability. Failure to impose sanctions or really any kind of consequence is not accountability. Even the Crown Prince finally calling this act a tragedy and organizing a photo op with the son of the victim (who has since left the country) is not accountability.
This column by Sali Hughes on family estrangements, especially when necessary, hit me directly in the feels.
A primer for our times, fellow angry women.
A thoughtful piece of writing on the new awkward age for the modern woman: the mid-30s. Old stereotypes about aging and life accomplishments aren’t uniform and there are more choices for women than ever before, which means that the yardsticks we use to measure ourselves by can be confusing. This is an oft-explored topic in writing, but this piece felt very relevant and fresh to me…probably because I’m turning 33 next year. “At this age, it’s possible to be brand-new or old hat at the same thing. There’s no unanimity, and that can be awkward.”
This, on the other hand, made me clutch myself and feel old.
I’m deeply interested in third-culture kid experiences, for obviously personal reasons.
What is happening in the panhandle of Texas, pray tell?
The corruption and mess continue unabated.
The administration is demonizing a small group of people currently in Central America and nearly two thousand miles away from our borders, but using them to whip up fear and nationalism in the run up to an election. It’s racist and it’s deplorable.
Meanwhile, the US armed forces are shaping the future of warfare. It’s just not in our official army.
The latest Dr Who episode is for our moment and yes, I cried.
A blunter take on the idea of biological clocks.
What weird and stupid times we live in.
Tell me again how scary it is to be a man these days. Go on. I dare you.
I’m pretty sure this is how every science fiction dystopia starts.
He’s awful, racist, and sometimes only semi literate:
Sadly, it looks like Mexico’s Police and Military are unable to stop the Caravan heading to the Southern Border of the United States. Criminals and unknown Middle Easterners are mixed in. I have alerted Border Patrol and Military that this is a National Emergy. Must change laws!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2018
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It got worse on Thursday. And after a single statement about national unity, the President went straight back to attacking the media.
And it got worse on Friday when still more targets, including senators, received explosive devices. An arrest was made (thank god for law enforcement), leaving a lot of conspiracy theorist who had quickly advanced the idea of a “false flag” (that this was a fake incident drummed up by Democrats for sympathy before the election) having to delete their tweets or walk back their (insane) potions. “Outsmarted yourself” indeed, Rivera…
And where were these people all radicalized, pray?
Absolutely vital reading: this six month investigation by the BBC.
The presidential twitter feed has been curiously mum on this. To be clear, I don’t think presidents have much to do with the stock market except in the macro and long term, but if you build your PR on the market rising, you own the PR of the market falling.
I believe it, but I’m petty as fuck right now.
This isn’t a “southern” thing or a “racist” thing (though god knows there are elements of racism baked into the core of it). This is a “party keeping itself in power and resorting to increasingly illiberal means to do so” thing.
Finally, let’s end on a nice note. I have learned a new, and highly relevant to me, word!
Small Dog Syndrome 
Loved Sali Hughes’ essay. Sure is familiar territory for me.
The mid-30s one is also interesting…I was married for the 1st time at 35 (very late for some) and divorced by 37. Ooops. Good thing I did not want children as that would have been difficult.