“Solitude is fine but you need someone to tell that solitude is fine.”
―
Darlings, it’s been a shit week on the personal front–one of those sorts of weeks where it doesn’t seem to matter how you try and approach a problem, there is no way to proceed without some kind of negative consequence, regardless of desire or intention. Meanwhile, it’s Accountancy Widow Season and Jeff has to work horrible hours to get his assignments over the line and we go days without only a few hours of overlap at times. Blech.
And so, to cope I have put together a great batch of weekend reading for you all–with absolutely no current political affairs for once! Let’s delve into the worlds of science, beauty, music, women and money, and Twitter threads that won’t make you want to burn something to the ground.
This weekend I’m catching up on the things that provide some balance and delight–books, podcasts, chats with friends–and tend to fall behind when work takes over. It’s not going to be a wildly productive weekend, but hopefully it will be restful one. Let me know your plans in the comments.
Me, live at the scene of today. pic.twitter.com/yhNqellBIb
— Mike Rugnetta: Always Already Tactical (@mikerugnetta) January 22, 2019
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
I should have included this last week, but the truth is there is more mystery than news in this brand launch tease. Any guesses? What can you stateside minions report back?
The only political story I am posting this week because I am too angry about too many things to list and choose to focus solely on foreign policy. What we are doing now is going to have ripple effects lasting generations, and we should care if people are unprepared or incompetent for the job.
We must stop looking to leaders of all kinds and swallowing their PR wholesale (especially when it comes to claims of moral authority of any kind). What people claim they value and promote is meaningless; what people actual value and promote is everything. As our suffragette foremothers said, “Deeds, not words.”
And on that note, why the world being built around men (even and perhaps especially as a default rather than any intended malice) is dangerous for women.
After years of ignoring or avoiding some hard accusations, we are going to have to grapple with another great artist who has caused horrible harm.
A really excellent episode of The High Low recently tackled the issue of great artists who are terrible people: what excuses are made for them, whether we should “cancel” their art, and why we need to think more about the many prospective artists who have never created because of the harm done to them which cut careers and ambitions short. Well worth the listen!
WHEW, this excellent interview with Aminatou Sow about money and work is a piece for lots of people I know, including myself, to either pin or tap to a mirror as a reminder. “There’s this idea that you’re supposed to be modest and put your head down — that work is your “family” and you’re lucky to be there. But work is not your family. The only way work shows how much they care about you is by how much they pay you.”
Ugh, yeah, I’ve been saying this for a hot minute. #Lizzo4President
On the one hand, I don’t like the increasingly blurred lines between many spaces that social media is creating. But taken a face value and only by intent, I think this is lovely.
Truly, content for our times.
“Cosmological Whack-a-Mole” is such a great phrase, but the whole article on the great unknowns in physics is worth a read.
Solange knew we would need good music this week and blessed us with this album drop.
Speaking of music and queens thereof, this interview with Stevie Nicks is a joy. She has a shawl vault. She revels in cashmere. She is fearless in her devotion to her art and muse. She is literal goals.
The Museum of English Rural Life, lately of museum/duck twitter thread fame, has done it again with a heartwarming story I have been following all week. Long live Merlin.
Shameless self promotional plug, but if you haven’t checked out this year’s Oscars Red Carpet Run Down, do!
Small Dog Syndrome 
Sorry it’s been a difficult week for you. Hoping that you’ll be able to rest over the weekend and feel refreshed by the time Monday rolls around.
I still haven’t tried any Glossier products, even though I’ve heard good press! Any recommendations? I almost bought their Milky Jelly cleanser when I was searching for the ideal cleanser for my skin, but I settled on Origins’ A Perfect World antioxidant cleanser. I don’t know if it’s that, or my switch to Erborian BB cream (which I love, by the way), but I’ve noticed that my skin is looking much healthier.
The weather last week was amazing! I sat outside to have lunch with my colleagues on Wednesday and insisted that we all go to get ice cream. Taking advantage of the ‘summer’ day! But these increasingly weird weather events are concerning.
“What people claim they value and promote is meaningless; what people actual value and promote is everything” — yes, yes, yes!
“The only way work shows how much they care about you is by how much they pay you” — also yes!
And before I sign out and vacuum the kitchen, here’s a random little story that I saw on the news this week: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/27/fat-rat-stuck-in-manhole-rescued-by-firefighters-in-germany
Made me smile, especially their compassion: “Even animals that are hated by many people deserve respect”
Thanks, lovely, you too!
Is it weird that my reaction to the rat story was, “Oh, how nice!”
I really like a lot of Glossier products (as has been WELL documented at this point), but I always say that if you are using something that is working for you, don’t switch things up just for the hell of it. Exploration and experimentation is so much fun and I will always make a case for it, but I also advocate for loyalty to items that are tried and true. You never know what may break you out or cause some kind of challenge and suddenly you’re out the money and have to repurchase the old stand by anyway. That being said, I do love the Milky Jelly cleanser! I went through bottles and bottles of the stuff and only have stopped buying it because I stumbled into a genuine gem of a drugstore cleanser that is doing such a good job that I have no reason to switch things up at the moment.
That was my reaction to the story too. And I promptly shared it in a work WhatsApp group, but apparently my colleagues didn’t find it as endearing as I did! Haha
I’m definitely finding that I have more “tried and true” items for skincare. The last item I bought was The Ordinary 100% organic rosehip seed oil. £9 a bottle and it makes my skin glow after using a few drops as a night time moisturiser. I was wary of using an oil, having had hormonal breakouts in the past, but it seems to be working.
That is SUCH a good oil, especially for the price.
Love Merlin! The teacher reading online is a wonderful woman. This is a really special use of social media.